by S. E. Smith
Chapter 36
“Merck, they’ll kill you,” Heron muttered, looking at where the men of the village had gathered. “You saw him with the female. He has claimed her.”
“You saw her. She is not a Valdieran. She cannot be their true mate. Twin Dragons cannot have a true mate. No female can handle them. He is crazy. Just like Brogan and Barrack were. You heard the stories of how Brogan tried to claim a female that wasn’t really their mate. He went crazy. Just like Cree Aryeh.”
“Let the warriors of the village take care of him. Then you can take the female,” Heron insisted.
“If you want to hide like your brother did, do so. I want the woman. She is different from the others. There was something about her that stirred my blood. Even my dragon was drawn to her. Perhaps she is my true mate,” Merck said, glancing over as several of the men yelled at each other. “They will attack the Twin Dragons and bring them down. I will volunteer to protect the female.”
“I don’t know if we should have told the men about the fight,” Heron mumbled.
“He attacked me,” Merck reminded him, staring at the group of men as they began to disperse. “I did nothing to provoke him.”
“I know. It’s just, if the female really is his true mate, then he is more likely to be protective. He did tell you to move away from her,” Heron grumbled before he winced and rubbed his arm when Merck hit him. “I’m just saying he is more likely to over-react when you touched her.”
“Father,” Merck called out.
Merck’s father turned. His face was grave as he nodded to Heron before he turned his attention to Merck. A frown creased his brow as he studied his son.
Merck was barely sixteen summers old and should have already started his warrior’s training. Both he and Lesann, his mate, had been reluctant to send their youngest and now only son away. Instead, Bane admitted with a sigh, they had spoiled him.
“You are sure that the attack was unprovoked?” Bane asked, studying Merck’s face intensely. “What you have claimed is very serious, Merck. I need to be sure. If what you say is true, it is very dangerous for the village.”
“Yes,” Merck replied with a worried frown. “I was standing near the unusual female talking to her. The next thing I know, the twin known as Cree shifted and attacked me. When Heron tried to help me, the warrior knocked him out.”
“What happened to the female?” Bane asked grimly.
“The other twin rushed for her and took her. He held her and refused to release her,” Merck said. “Cree almost killed me, but Creja stopped him.”
“What were you doing there?” Bane asked, glancing at Heron, who shifted from one foot to the other.
“Mother is expecting again,” Heron said, looking at Bane. “She sent Jasset for some of Lady Lyla’s jamberry. Merck and I tagged along. It had been a long time since we had been out to see Creja.”
Bane nodded as he glanced at several men still standing around. He gave a brief, sharp nod to them. Grief pulled on him as he thought of what this would do to his friends, not to mention Creja and Lyla. It was almost certain that some of the men in the village would die. It was a definite that if Creja fought against them, he would die along with his sons and take his mate with him.
Still, he had made a promise to his friend. He could do no less for Creja than what Creja had done for him when he had been unable to kill his two older sons when they went mad. If he had been stronger, fewer people would have died. The guilt of their deaths still weighed heavily on his soul, even centuries later.
“We will take care of the matter,” Bane told Merck. “Stay away from Creja’s home until this is over.”
“I am old enough to fight, Father. You know they will not let the female go,” Merck argued. “She needs to be removed, otherwise she could be killed. It will take every warrior to defeat them.”
“I said, we will take care of the matter,” Bane said sharply.
“Yes, sir,” Merck replied, lowering his head as his father turned and walked away.
“What are we going to do?” Heron asked.
“We watch the female, but from a distance,” Merck said with determination. “If we get a chance to take her, we do.”
“But your father said…” Heron said, nervously looking over at where Bane was talking to three other men who were nodding. “Merck, I don’t want to do it.”
“Then, don’t,” Merck replied. “Go home, Heron. Your mother needs you.”
Heron winced at the condensing tone in Merck’s voice. He gave a weak nod before he turned on his heel. He glanced over his shoulder, but Merck had already disappeared.
*.*.*
Melina frowned as she glanced around her. She had wandered down to the river as Creja, Cree, and Calo worked on building the foundation of their home. Bane and several other men from the village had come to help as well.
She had been surprised when they arrived early this morning, especially after finding out that the boy Cree had almost strangled was Bane’s son. It wasn’t until Calo had explained that Bane and their father were very close that she finally relaxed.
“Valdieran males can be very aggressive,” Calo grinned. “You have probably realized that by now.”
“Just a little,” she had teased.
Since the incident two days before, both of her mates had been very protective. Lyla had stayed with her yesterday, but today she was visiting Heron and Jasset’s mother.
Holding it up to the light, she smiled when she saw the deep thread of gold running through it. She dropped it in the basket where she had been finding all different ones to use for decorations.
A loud roar up on the rim where the men were working startled her. Straightening up, her heart caught in her throat as she saw more than a dozen dragons suddenly converge on the men. She started up the rim in surprise when she saw Cree stagger before falling to his knees. She couldn’t see Calo and Creja, only Bane, who appeared to be directing the men and dragons.
Fear choked her and she started to call for her dragon when two dragons suddenly swooped down out of the air in front of her and landed. She stumbled backwards, almost falling over the basket with the stones she had been collecting. The dragon in front suddenly shifted into his two-legged form. Melina recognized the warrior from the other day.
“You!” Her eyes swept frantically to the group of men up on the rim. “What is going on? What are those men doing?”
“You are safe now,” Merck said with a reassuring smile. “The Twin Dragons will no longer be a threat.”
“A threat?” Melina whispered, raising a shaky hand to her throat as she saw sets of dragons lifting off with each male in a net. “What have you done?”
“You have no need to fear now,” Merck said with a frown, stepping closer.
Melina’s eyes flashed in fury. “You… you… jerk! Those are my mates!” She growled in frustration.
“Not any longer,” Merck replied in confusion. “You don’t need to worry, I will protect and care for you.”
Melina’s hands clenched into fists as the stupid boy stepped closer to her. Her eyes flashed to the other dragon behind him. It was time to show them what a girl from Georgia could do.
Reaching down, she grabbed the basket of rocks. Grabbing one, she wound her arm up and pitched it just like she learned playing on the Clayton County Girls’ Softball team. Merck reeled as the first rock struck him in the gut. The second hit a little lower.
“You’re outta there!” She shouted as he collapsed to his knees with a loud, pain filled cry. “Batter up!”
Melina didn’t stop until she was out of rocks. By then, the other dragon was snarling and using his wing as a shield. Her hand groped the empty basket and an unfamiliar curse escaped her lips, causing her to blush. Panic set in when she saw Merck stumble back to his feet and glare at her.
“Damn!” She muttered.
What do I do? She wondered frantically as he realized she was out of ammunition.
Let me out, her drag
on demanded. Now!
Melina didn’t think twice. Turning on her heel, she fled across the uneven ground, shifting as she ran. Within seconds, she was flying as fast as she could in the opposite direction away from where her mates had been taken.
Cree! Calo! Melina called out frantically as she felt the others pursuing her. Help me!
Me… Mel… Hi… de, Cree’s weak voice whispered through her mind. Sym… biot, will com…
Where can I hide? She wondered as her dragon slipped in and out between the thick undergrowth of the forest.
I know, her dragon whispered. Trust me.
I do, Melina whispered forlornly. Please, just don’t let them catch us.
Melina withdrew into her dragon, letting the creature’s instinctive nature take over. As the seconds turned to minutes, the distance slowly grew further and further as her dragon pushed herself to the limit of her ability to escape the two males trailing her. Being larger, they had a more difficult time following the smaller female who made sure she took the path of most resistance.
Soon, the female began to slow. Breathing heavily, she sighted the place her mate had been showing her. Turning sideways, she folded her wings tightly against her sides as she flew through the narrow gap in the rock face of the mountain.
She opened her wings and glided higher, arching in the massive interior cavern before slowly descending to the smooth floor. She touched down on shaking legs, stumbling several steps before collapsing in exhaustion.
A low cry escaped her as Cree’s symbiot flowed through the entrance. It shook before dissolving so it could wrap protectively around her weary body. She raised her head enough to run her tongue along the smooth surface before she fell into an exhausted slumber.
Cree, I’m safe, Melina whispered.
Silence met her. Tears glittered on the delicate green dragon’s long, dark lashes before they fell. Grief pulled at her, but so did determination. She would not give up on her mates. They were her family. Never again would she be alone.
Chapter 37
Cree blinked up at his Father and Calo. They were chained to the poles in front of him. His stomach rolled as the drug that had been in the water lingered in his system. Traitor. That was the first thought that came into his mind. The second was he was going to kill every one of the bastards if they harmed Melina. Hell, he might do it anyway.
“Where…” He drew in a deep breath and forced himself to stand on his legs so he could relieve the strain on his arms. “Where are we?”
“The center of the village,” Creja replied before he muttered a warning. “Do not try to shift. We’ve each been fitted with an explosive collar. It would appear they have taken a trick from the Antrox.”
“Why?” Cree choked out as he rolled his neck.
“They think you and Calo have gone mad,” Creja said in a quiet voice.
“Why would they think that?” Cree asked, staring at the guards that had been placed around them.
“You attacked Bane’s son, Merck,” Creja replied in a heavy voice. “Memories run deep, Cree. The villagers remember when Brogan snapped.”
“I want to see my mate!” Lyla demanded, pushing against one of the guards. “You dare attack my sons and my mate! You have no right! They have done nothing.”
“Your sons have gone mad,” one of the men said. “Leave, Lady Lyla. It is best for you not to witness this.”
“Witness what? What do you plan to do? Murder them? For what? Protecting their mate? All males have the right to protect their females. How can you expect Twin Dragons to be any less protective for their true mate?” Lyla argued desperately.
“Lyla,” Creja called softly. “It will be well, my mate.”
“Not this time, Creja,” Bane said heavily as he approached. “Lyla, go to my mate. Stay with her.”
“No!” Lyla cried out as two warriors stepped forward to grab her arms. “Listen to me. They have found their true mate. They have not gone mad.”
“The female fled as soon as she was free of the Twin Dragons,” Bane replied in a low voice. “She was terrified.”
“Of course she was terrified,” Lyla retort in a voice that rose in anger. “You attacked her mates! Two of the warriors chased her! What was she supposed to do? Let you take her as well?”
“We were there to help her, to save her,” Bane protested.
“She is not from our world. She would not understand why you would do this to her mates. All she would see is that you were attacking them and trying to take her against her will. Who accuses my sons of being mad?” She asked in a low voice. “I have the right to know who accuses them? What proof do you have?”
“Your son attacked me. You saw him. You were there when he did it,” Merck stated, pushing through the group.
“You take the word of a youngling, a boy, who didn’t know better than to approach a mated female?” Lyla scoffed. “Of course, he attacked you. He told you to step away from her and you refused! Any male here would attack you for the same offense to their mate.”
“I heard the female cry out in fear,” Merck insisted as he pointed to Calo. “That one grabbed her and held her against her will. They deserve to die before they kill everyone.”
Lyla stepped forward and slapped Merck across the face… hard. She raised her hand to do it again, but one of the guards grabbed her. Fury coursed through her and she turned on the male holding her.
Creja, infuriated by the guard, roared out and struggled against the restraints holding him. Dark topaz scales rippled along his arms and up his chest and neck as his dragon strained to take control to protect his mate. He roared again when Lyla cried out in fury as the guard wrapped his arms around her.
“Father, no!” Calo yelled. “Mother, calm him. If you don’t, he will die.”
Lyla immediately stopped struggling. Turning, she looked up into her mate’s eyes. For endless seconds, they gazed at each other in silent communication. A shudder ran through Lyla and she collapsed in defeat.
“If you kill my mate and sons, Bane, you will never be able to live with the wrong you have done,” Lyla said in a voice filled with emotion. “The Goddess herself has blessed my sons with their true mate. Never before has a set of Twin Dragons been given such a gift. It is hard enough for a single warrior. Yet, Melina is their hope. If you kill them, you kill her as well.”
Bane stood in silence, listening to Lyla’s impassioned plea. He looked at his son, Merck, and a wave of misgiving swept through him. It was true. Fewer and fewer females meant fewer and fewer true mates for the warriors. The idea that a female, especially from another species, could be the true mate to the Twin Dragons seemed impossible to believe.
Yet, did not the Royal family find their mates among the stars, he thought before he pushed the thought away.
“Take her to my mate,” Bane instructed in a heavy voice filled with sorrow. “She will stay with you, Lyla. I’m sorry.”
“No! Please, I beg of you, do not kill them,” Lyla cried as the warrior guided her away. “No!”
“Bane,” Creja said hoarsely as his eyes followed his mate.
Bane looked up at Creja. His face tightened as he saw the grief reflected on it. He knew how much it had pained Creja to order the execution of the last set of Twin Dragons. He now understood the heavy responsibility and remorse that Creja suffered as he made that decision. It had been one that he could not have made.
“I made you a promise, Creja. A promise that I now understand I should not have burdened you with. Just as you kept your vow to me, I will keep mine to you,” Bane interrupted. “I could not kill my own sons when the time came and it cost the lives of many. I would spare you and Lyla the guilt that Lesann and I carry.”
“She tells the truth, Bane,” Creja said in a low voice. “The girl is their true mate.”
Bane shook his head, looking into the cold eyes of Calo and Cree. There had never been a true mate for a set of Twin Dragons. No female could control them as males, much less handle two alpha m
ale dragons. It was impossible. It would take an extraordinary female to do that.
“There is no true mate for a set of Twin Dragons. You and I both know that. I wanted to believe there was as well,” Bane said as he turned away. “My sons wanted to believe it so much they tried to take a female against her will.”
“Cree and Calo are not Brogan and Barrack,” Creja argued.
“No, they are not,” Bane replied, not turning around. “They will die before they kill other innocents.”
*.*.*
Melina woke slowly. She was stiff from lying on the hard floor. Uncurling her legs, she blinked in the dim shadows of the cavern. Cree’s golden symbiot turned to look at her from its position by the entrance before turning to look back outside.
Rising to her feet, she stretched before turning in a circle. The cavern was enormous. Glittering lights lit the ceiling, making it look like the stars on a cloudless night. Stepping toward a small pool of water, she knelt and cupped the clear liquid in her hands.
“I wonder if it is safe to drink?” She whispered.
“It is,” a silky voice replied behind her.
Melina twisted so fast in surprise that she lost her balance and started to fall backwards into the pool. Instead, a gasp escaped her as she floated upwards until she was standing. She blinked several times as she stared in amazement at the figure in front of her. Rubbing her eyes, she looked again.
“Your mouth is hanging open,” the female chuckled.
“You’re real,” Melina whispered. “I saw you. You were holding the three dragons that were like my pendant. You told me that I was made for them.”
The golden figure floated down from where she had been hovering off the ground. The form solidified as she stepped on the stone floor of the cavern. Melina remained frozen in wonder at the beauty of the ethereal creature.
“Yes.”
“Who… Who are you?” Melina asked curiously.
“I am called many things, on many worlds. On this one, I am called Aikaterina,” the golden Goddess replied.
