by S. E. Smith
“She is a miracle to us, Father,” Cree said, coming to stand next to the male who had guided him and his brother and given them hope. “It is like the stories you used to tell us.”
Creja turned to his oldest son. “Where did you find her? She is not a Valdier, Curizan or Sarafin.”
“No, she is a human from a planet called Earth,” Cree said, following Melina and his mother as they walked toward the cottage. “She was kidnapped by a trader and sold to the Antrox.”
Creja’s inhaled breath showed his dismay as he watched his new daughter nod at whatever Lyla was telling her. His eyes ran over her slender form. How could she have survived such an experience?
“She pretended to be a boy who had lost his mind,” Cree replied, answering his father’s softly muttered question. “She is incredibly beautiful inside and out.”
“Come,” Creja said, throwing his arm around Cree’s shoulder. “Come inside and tell us about how you discovered your miracle. And I will tell you of the one you have just given to us.”
*.*.*
Melina lay snuggled between Cree and Calo later that night. Her head lay on Cree’s shoulder while her feet were tucked up against Calo, who was lying on his side facing her. A giggle escaped her as she thought of one of the stories that Lyla had told her.
“What is so funny?” Calo asked, running his thumb over the soft skin of her stomach.
“You,” she whispered into the darkness. “Did you really tell your mom that cleaning the kitchen was woman’s work?”
Calo groaned and buried his face in Melina’s hair as Cree laughed. “I told you that you shouldn’t have said that,” Cree reminded his brother.
“I didn’t mean it the way it came out,” Calo complained, leaning up on his elbow to glare down at Cree. “We were, but younglings. Surely I can be forgiven for saying it one time!”
“It was the day the other Twins died, wasn’t it?” Melina murmured.
“How did you know about that?” Cree asked as his arm tightened around her.
“Your symbiots showed it to me,” Melina whispered, as her fingers fluttered to the pendent hanging around her neck. “Just like the lady in gold showed me that we were meant to be together.”
“The lady in gold?” Cree and Calo asked in a quiet voice at the same time. “What… lady in gold?”
*.*.*
The next day, Melina laughed as she watched the three male dragons fly overhead. She shaded her eyes admiring the beauty of them. Cree and Calo had selected an area not too far from their parent's home where they were going to build a house.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing them as a dragons,” Melina murmured, looking at Lyla, who was gathering some berries from the vines strung up along one side of the garden area. “Do you grow all your own food?”
Lyla laughed in delight. “Not all, but most now. I go to the village a few times a week to take some of what I grow to the traders who come and to pick up the items we do not produce ourselves.”
“A village? Can I go with you the next time you go? I haven’t been to one before. I did see the city, but from a distance,” Melina exclaimed in excitement.
“They did not take you to the markets?” Lyla asked, a slight tone of disapproval and exasperation in her voice as she glanced up at the fading figures of her sons. “Why?”
“They were afraid something would happen to me,” Melina replied. “You heard about the battle, didn’t you?”
Lyla’s mouth tightened and she nodded. “I am glad Raffvin is dead. His greed for power hurt too many, including my sons.”
Melina nodded, not saying anything else. She picked some of the berries and placed them in the small basket she carried. The sun broke out from behind a cloud and she closed her eyes and tilted her face toward it.
“Lady Lyla,” a deep voice called out from behind them.
Melina’s eyes snapped opened and she blinked to clear her vision as she turned. Three men stood on the other side of the line of vines staring at her in curiosity. At least two were curious, the other’s eyes had narrowed and was more appraising than curious.
“Good day, warriors,” Lyla greeted.
“Mother asked if you might have more of the jam you made,” one of the men asked with a grimace. “She is expecting again and has a craving. Father asked if I would come to you. She is being most… difficult.”
Lyla laughed as she set the basket down on the ground and wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing. She waved her hand to him to follow her. Melina watched as they walked away. It was only when they were almost to the house that she noticed that the ‘man’ was really a teenager. His loping walk and animated features were just a part of what made her realize that.
“Greetings, my lady,” the deep voiced male who originally called out said, stepping closer to the vine. “I am called Merck.”
Melina turned back to face the man. She stumbled half a step back when she realized he was much closer than before. Giving him a shy, uneasy smile, Melina dipped her head.
“My name is Melina Franklin,” she responded politely.
“An unusual name for an unusual woman,” Merck replied with an easy, assessing grin. “I do not recognize your accent, or your species.”
Melina blushed and raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair away from her face as a light breeze blew it across. A shiver went through her when Merck’s eyes narrowed in on the golden wrist cuff she was wearing. She dropped her hand back down and stiffened her shoulders.
“I’m not from around here,” she replied, turning her attention back to the vine and berries. “I’d better get this done. Lyla was wanting to get another batch ready for canning this afternoon.”
“Canning?” Merck asked with a frown, unfamiliar with the term. “What is that?”
Melina glanced over at him, noticing that he was following her as she moved down the row. Her eyes flickered to the house. Lyla and the boy were still inside.
“It is a term we used back home when we were putting up the food we would harvest. I used to help my mom and Nana before they died and took over when it was just Gramps and me,” she said, biting her lip as she remembered her family.
“You are sad,” Merck murmured. “Why?”
Melina shrugged and remained quiet. She reached for another berry. A light gasp escaped her when Merck’s hand covered hers. Jerking her head up, she stared at him in surprise.
“Why are you sad?” Merck asked again in a soft voice.
“Stand back, boy,” Cree’s voice growled menacingly.
Melina’s eyes widened as she watched Calo transform behind Cree. She hadn’t even heard them approach! Blinking, she stared in dismay as she realized that both men had the knives they wore at all times in their hands.
“Twins!” Merck said in surprise, taking a step closer to Melina instead of away. “I thought you were dead.”
“You thought wrong,” Calo snarled as he stepped along the row where Melina stood. “Melina, come to me.”
Melina frowned at Calo, not liking the tone in his voice, but realizing now was not the time to argue the point. She started to walk toward him, but was stopped by the hand gripping her forearm. Startled, she looked at it before looking into Merck’s concerned eyes.
“It’s okay,” she replied, trying to shrug off his hand.
“Stay,” he murmured. “They are not to be trusted.”
“They…” Melina started to say before she cried out in shock as Calo charged for her at the same time as Cree shifted into his dragon. “Calo!”
Chapter 35
“This would be an excellent place for your home,” Creja was saying as he looked around. “It is high, dry, has the right position for the morning and afternoon sun, and is close enough that your Mother will love you both for it.”
Calo laughed as he gazed down the rise toward the river. They would have a large deck and windows to overlook it. The house they would build would have windows everywhere, so Melina would never fe
el trapped again. They would make it so that no matter which room she was in, there would be plenty of natural sunlight to caress her skin.
“We will need to make room for the younglings we will have,” Cree said, surprising both his father and Calo.
“Younglings?” Calo choked out.
Cree grinned. “Not yet, but in the future. We will fill our home with them.”
Creja chuckled and slapped Cree on the shoulder. “While that might make your mother very happy, have you discussed this with your mate?”
Cree shook his head, but a grin curved his lips. “Not yet. In truth, Father, I am still amazed that she is real,” he murmured, staring down at the river. “When I first saw her, I thought she was a small male. I wasn’t sure what to do. I still feel that way now. All I can think about is protecting her, loving her, and continued to be amazed that she is ours.”
Creja grew quiet as he stood next to Cree. Calo came to stand beside them, lost in his own thoughts of Melina. Creja understood all too well the feelings his sons were feeling. He also understood the fear inside them. As Twin Dragons, there was a greater chance of them having twins as well.
“After you both were born, your mother and I were thrilled,” Creja said.
“But?” Cree and Calo asked at the same time.
A wry smile curved Creja’s lips. “We also feared what would happen. Your mother… I could not stand to see the worry and fear in her eyes as you grew older. When I heard her cry yesterday, it almost shattered me to think of destroying what little light remained,” he replied in a quiet voice. “I do not know if I would have been able to kill you. I understand the pain Brogan and Barrack’s parents felt when it came time to end their pain.”
“How are Bane and Lesann doing?” Calo asked.
“They left the village for a short time, but returned after the birth of another son,” Creja replied heavily. “No one blamed them. Their sons fought to protect the village and gave their services to the Royal family. All expected them to die in battle.”
“As they expected us to die,” Cree remarked with a shrug. “We would have if it had not been for our promise to serve the Royal family. For that, I am glad I gave it.”
“You were drunk,” Creja laughed, slapping Cree on the shoulder.
“How did you know?” Cree asked in shock, staring at his father.
“Who do you think begged the young Royal to extract the promise from you? His father and I were friends in our youth,” Creja said with a sigh. “To think Raffvin, Zlatan’s own brother, would kill him.”
“Zlatan” Calo asked, confused.
Creja laughed and shook his head. “He hated that name. The King’s real name was Zlatan Jalo Reykill. He said it reminded him too much of his father, so he went by Jalo. It fit his personality better. He was nothing like his father whilst Raffvin followed after him.”
Calo and Cree looked grimly at each other, thankful that Raffvin had finally been eliminated and the fear of him taking control was removed. Zoran was a good and just ruler who utilized the strengths of his brothers and warriors to better the lives of his people.
Cree frown when he felt a flash of unease sweep through him. Calo turned to look at him at the same time. A fierce snarl escaped them both as they turned as one. Shifting as they ran, they leaped into the air.
Creja’s own eyes filled with fury as he recognized the direction his sons were flying. He quickly shifted and lifted off. Reaching for his mate, he breathed easier when she sent him a wave of reassuring warmth.
Perhaps his sons were just missing their mate, he thought as he pushed harder to catch up with them.
*.*.*
You take the left, I’ll take the right, Cree said in a steely cold voice.
My symbiot is there with her now, Calo replied as he swerved to the left.
Three males, two outside, one inside, Cree breathed as he swooped through the branches of the thick forest.
Turning sideways, he folded his wings close to his body as he flashed through it. He did not worry about Calo or his father. His focus was on reaching Melina. He had felt her wave of unease. The slight spear of fear.
He broke through the thick woods and soared near the ground. The long grass brushed along his belly as he came in low and fast. He pulled up right, landing at a run as he touched down behind his parent’s home. Calo was right beside him heading around to the other side. Both held the knives they always carried in their hands.
Fury exploded through Cree as he stepped around the corner of the house. One male stood off to the side with a bored look on his face, but the other was not only too close to Melina, he was touching her.
“Stand back, boy,” Cree’s voice growled menacingly.
“Twins!” The male said, stepping closer to Melina instead of away like he had been ordered. “I thought you were dead.”
“You thought wrong,” Calo snarled as he strode quickly around the house and to the end of the row of vines. “Melina, come to me.” He held his hand out to her.
Cree’s eyes narrowed on the male. He didn’t care that he was young, he was treading on a path that would get him killed if he wasn’t careful. The boy was large for his age, but he lacked the experience of a centuries-old, battle-hardened warrior.
“It’s okay,” Melina said, trying to shrug off the hand holding her.
“Stay,” the boy commanded in a low voice. “They are not to be trusted.”
Cree’s control snapped at the challenge in the younger male’s voice. Sliding his knife into its sheath at his side, he shifted at the same time as Calo moved to gather Melina to him. He charged the younger male who shifted in reaction to Melina being torn from him and the threat of the older male.
Cree’s symbiot tackled the other male’s and they circled each other, hissing and snarling at each other. Calo’s moved around and attacked it from the back. The creature dissolved and reformed trying to protect itself as the two symbiots attacked again and again.
Cree struck the burnt orange colored dragon low in the chest before turning and wrapping his long tail around it and tossing it over his shoulder. Spinning, he growled low and long. A howl of rage ran through him when the other male that had been standing nearby hit him on the side.
He rolled, taking the other male with him as he did. Sliding his feet under the stomach, he pushed out with his powerful legs while slapping the smaller dragon across the snout with his tail. The male flew backwards, skidding along the ground where he lay still.
Cree grunted when the male he originally attacked, hit him hard while he was still down. He swung his wing up and raked deep cuts along the male’s tender nose with his wing claw. When the male jerked back, he reached up under him with his tail and yanked his feet out from under him.
Rolling, he used his tail and wings to trap the male, while he grasped him by the throat with his sharp teeth. Blood filled his mouth as he bit down in a suffocating choke hold. The male, while large, was no match for Cree’s muscular body and experience. He struggled briefly before his movement became sluggish as he fought for oxygen.
“Cree,” Creja yelled as he ran up to where the huge males lay in the dirt. “Cree, let him go, son. He is just a youngling.”
Cree held on for an additional few seconds before releasing the nearly unconscious male’s throat. Standing over him, he raised his head and released a loud roar. Blood from the other male coated his mouth, chin and ran down his chest as he turned his head to the other two males. One he had not seen before was helping the one he had knocked out, now in his two-legged form, up.
His eyes flashed to the golden symbiot that he and Calo’s had pinned to the ground. The creature continued to hiss and snarl, but lowered his head when he roared again. His warning clear, attack and he would kill the male.
“Cree,” Creja said again, feeling the tension radiating from his oldest son’s body.
Cree turned his head back toward where Melina stood frozen in Calo’s arms. Her pale face filled with shock as she st
ared back at him. He stepped over the body below him and walked slowly toward her, refusing to let her break the contact between them.
Lowering his head to her, he swished his tail back and forth in warning for anyone to come near them. His gold eyes blazed with triumph and possessiveness as he stood over her.
“He’s crazy,” the young warrior choked out. “He should be put down.”
Cree turned his head and pulled back his lips to reveal his sharp teeth. A low rumble shook the ground as he thrashed his tail back and forth. He started to turn, but a soft hand running up his chest pulled his head back around.
“It’s alright,” Melina whispered as she caressed Cree. “He doesn’t know what he is talking about. You’re hurt.”
A shiver went through the huge body as her fingers touched the cut on his side. The golden wrist cuff on her dissolved and ran over the cut, healing it, before reforming on her. A trembling smile curved her lips as she looked up at him.
“All better,” she whispered.
Strong arms circled her as Cree shifted into his two-legged form and wrapped them around her. Lifting her up into his arms, he didn’t turn to look at anyone else as he walked away from the house. He just knew he had to get her away from the other males.
“She is safe,” Calo murmured as he walked beside him.
“I will kill him if he comes near her again,” Cree said in a rough voice.
“No one is killing anyone,” Melina retorted with a sigh. “That was the first time I’ve ever had a guy fight over me and I hope it is the last. I hate violence.”
“This coming from the woman who throws Pactor dung,” Calo teased.
Melina’s giggles relaxed the adrenaline pumping through Cree. He knew something else that would help him as well. Melina’s loud groan pulled a chuckle from him as she caught his thoughts. Calo’s rumble of desire turned the groan into a grumble, pulling more laughter from them.
“I swear you guys are the horniest men I have ever seen,” Melina laughed as she wrapped her arms around Cree’s neck and sank her teeth into him.
“Goddess, yes!” He swore as he turned to a small clearing in the woods.
