25. Aurelia

Chapter 25

Aurelia

" W hat are they?" someone asked, noticing the emberflies drifting in.

The insects had found me, it seemed. I'd wondered if they would. I hadn't seen any since we'd gotten here. I hadn't been sure this place even had any, and it was a comfort to see they did. It meant I'd get some warning if or when Granny's people came for me.

I wondered if she'd realized whose ship I was on. Where I'd been taken. It wouldn't be easy snatching me from a palace with dragons soaring overhead.

I sure fucking hoped not, but knew deep in my bones it wouldn't deter her. It might take her longer, but she'd find a way. Her determination rivaled mine.

"Are these insects not usually found here?" I asked Sixten, who was working on her second plate of food.

She shook her head, watching them drift in across the grounds. "Not like this. We have them, sure. I've seen a few hanging around the woods. But they have never gathered like this."

"Really?" I frowned at that. I'd never seen them not gather like this, not since I could remember, at any rate.

"I wonder if that's a fairy thing. Bug charmer." She grinned at me.

"Somehow I have a feeling they won't be in any hurry to get me a special fairy knife for that type of magic."

"Then we will just have to steal one." She winked. "Oh, the beta showed up."

I followed her gaze, and my stomach dropped out. I barely recognized the man who'd taken me from my village. He'd cut his hair, the sides short while the top was kept longer, styled in a sort of sweep so the ends spiked up. The change let me see more of his face, highlighting those sharp cheekbones and the delicate curve of his eyebrows. His thin nose cut down to his deliciously lush lips, and his almost severe jaw was dotted with a dimple in the center of his chin. He wore a crisp black top with gold embroidery around the collar and along the shoulders, while charcoal-gray threads swirled around his torso. The perfect cut of his black slacks showed off his muscular thighs, ending in shiny black shoes. He walked with confidence, his presence authoritative, a commander amongst his subordinates.

I'd known he was handsome—of course I had. I'd stared at his face often, traced the lines of his body with my eyes, my hands, my mouth. But my appreciation had been tempered by an initial meeting seeped in dislike. My perception of him had changed, but I realized that, before now, I hadn't entirely gotten over the feelings from our first encounter.

Seeing him now, like this, was like looking at a completely different person. Someone new, a comfortable stranger. That fact scared me for a moment, like I was losing the man I'd grown to know, the man I missed every time we were apart and the one I enjoyed waking up next to. The one I chatted with so easily, whom I was learning about gradually while being in his space and hearing about his life. I didn't want to lose that man, even to this handsome stranger.

"You're a fucking idiot," my wolf said, her frustration with how long I had taken to get to this point at an all-time high.

I couldn't blame her. It had taken me a long time. A really long time, maybe. I'd been downplaying all the amazing things he'd done, all the ways he'd tried to care for me. But now, right now , I knew, without a doubt, that I approved of nature's plan. I approved of my primal desire for him. I agreed with my wolf. I was no longer teetering; I was ready to fall.

His gaze zeroed in on me almost immediately, and he ignored anyone saying hello as he moved through the crowd. I started forward, butterflies swarming my belly, really hoping he hadn't had a personality change to match the image change. People cleared out of the way, giving us space as we met near one of the fires.

"Hey, baby," he said, sounding fatigued. "I can't stay long. I just stopped by to grab a bite, and then I need to go speak with the royals."

"Is everything okay?"

He traced my jaw and slowly shook his head. "I can't say more just now. Can you show me around?"

I grabbed him a plate and walked him to the roast, where Burt piled on some meat and then gave him a dash of vegetables. He looked at me. "Have you eaten yet? We're running low on veg."

"Oh no, that's okay. You go ahead and serve?—"

"No." Weston handed me the plate. "Aurelia, this isn't your old village. You don't have to go without here. We have plenty of food in this castle. If you run out of something you have cooked, then they can eat elsewhere."

"It's fine?—"

"It's not fine." His look was stern. "It is not fine. You need to eat."

He was right, and I was hungry. I relented, but handed his plate back. "I can't eat all of that."

"Here." Dante reached for an empty plate. "Hi, Beta. Here, Aurelia, use this."

"Thanks," I told him. He'd been trying to push food on me since I arrived.

Burt gave me too much food, despite my protests, and Weston led me away from the others to a chair, somewhat off to the side of the group. He was probably right in that people would stiffen up if he was in their midst, especially when he looked like this.

"We have to eat with our hands because Burt didn't bring enough utensils," I said as Weston sat down. He used one hand on my hip to tug me down onto his lap.

"I doubt anyone cares." He groaned softly with the first bite, closing his eyes, and then gave me a funny look when he ate one of the cut-up vegetables. "What is this?"

I paused in eating my own, assessing the flavors. "Some books call that a rune carrot, while others just a wild carrot. They are all over this wood. I would've expected the cook's crew or the garden crew to have picked them all by now."

"Cook has his own gardens for food. He doesn't grow this, though. Not that I have ever tasted. It's good."

"It's strong. You have to simmer it down. It's best in stews."

"I see." He smiled and continued eating. When he was done, and after a severe look at my half-full plate, he finished what I couldn't. "Delicious, baby, as usual."

"Weston."

Hannon walked up quickly, and Weston stiffened. Frustrated rage filtered through the bond, his hand on my hip tightening for a fraction of a moment before I could feel his concerted effort to relax. He put our plates on the ground before gently nudging me up and standing up beside me, stepping back to give me some space as Hannon approached.

My heart hurt at the amount of effort I could see and feel. It also swelled. Sixten had been right—he'd gone against his instincts to make sure I was happy. He'd said to take my time, to figure out what—and whom—I wanted, and he'd meant it. He'd allowed me a choice—something Granny never had. That was incredibly honorable, and I felt so fucking lucky. I would treasure him for that always.

"We should've been claimed by now," my wolf groused.

Hannon stopped in front of us, and I stepped closer to Weston, wrapping my arm around his waist.

A shock of desire rang through the bond as he realized what I was doing. My choice had been made in front of everyone: him. Only him.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders possessively, pulling me in tightly. He turned to face me, ignoring Hannon, and tilted up my chin to kiss my lips. His eyes were hard and fierce.

"Are you sure? You need to be sure, Little Wolf," he told me softly. "I've been holding off my possessiveness. Once I commit, that's it. No more Mr. Nice Guy."

"Commit," I told him, closing my eyes, feeling his lips. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

"Don't be sorry. You had to rebuild your trust in me. I accept that. I'd rather you take a moment and be sure you have no regrets than live a life you aren't sure about." His kiss was long and deep.

Only after he released me from the kiss did he turn to Hannon, his alpha power pumping out around him. His possessive aggression sang through me in delicious ways I did not expect—primal ways that bubbled up my middle while sending molten heat to my core.

Hannon's eyebrows rose a fraction. He took a step back.

"What is it?" Weston growled.

"The royals need you. Both of you. That shipment we heard rumors about? It wasn't just rumors, and the supply was dirt cheap. Drinks were spiked in a few of the taverns. Half the villages are having problems, some with very powerful shifters. We've got people dispatched to the villages in case there is sickness, but we need to do something to calm down the powerful shifters without bloodshed. It was mentioned Aurelia has a way to do that. My village is requesting her presence, but that isn't the worst of the problems right now." He paused, his gaze on Weston poignant. "Micah partook."

"Fuck," Weston said, slouching a little. "What was he thinking?"

"Who's Micah?" I asked. His name was familiar, but I couldn't place him.

"The dragon commander," he replied. "He has the same rank as me, and a lot of power."

"He'd heard that a few of your sub-pack, and then Hadriel and Vemar, took product and were fine," Hannon said. "He was confused between her product and Granny's. He's sick—very sick. They're worried about him. He won't let anyone close enough to give him something to cure him. The king has asked for a solution that doesn't involve him forcing the issue. He's afraid this will turn into a dragon battle, and his dragon has had a longstanding... problem with Micah's."

"I know?—"

"Wait, Granny's product?" I asked, aghast.

"Yes," Hannon told me. "Her product arrived on our shores and was put up for sale for a fraction of the price. Dirt cheap."

"Why would she do that?" I asked, but I knew the answer and so did these guys. "She's trying to flush me out."

"We found two posters of your likeness, with the promise of a large reward, tucked into hidden cubbies in market stalls or carts," Weston said quickly. "One of the stall owners died. He wouldn't have been able to send back word of your arrival. The other was thoroughly questioned earlier this evening. He got the likeness a while ago, days before you arrived, but hadn't thought more about it. He didn't send word you'd arrived on these shores. I'm almost certain Granny doesn't yet know where you are. She's probably doing this across the other kingdoms she thinks you could be hiding in. Her spies will be watching, and we don't know who they are. If you help, she'll get word. She'll know where to find you."

"All the other kingdoms have supplies of the elixir that saves lives," Hannon said. "What will tip her off to Aurelia specifically?"

"Because I know the fail-safes, and she knows I'll help people use them. It's clear she never passed those instructions to the traders." I started forward. "Yet another lie," I said through gritted teeth. This one was just as unforgivable as lying about my wolf. I started to jog.

"Where are you going?" Weston called after me.

I stopped and turned, noticing Vemar and Hadriel hurrying toward us. "It sounds like I'm not going to be able to force some of these shifters into closets. I'm going to need some dragon-sized tarps. I'll meet you... Where should I meet you?"

"Billiard room."

Hadriel slowed and then pushed Vemar on. "Go with her. I'll get a plate for the king and queen. If they eat this food, maybe they won't be so mad about her product fucking things up again."

"I'm on it, little buddy!" Vemar jogged ahead, putting on a burst of speed when I started running.

Weston

"She didn't pause," Hannon said as we started hustling back. We couldn't be seen running—we didn't want to frighten people. "She had no regard for the fact that helping Micah and the others would out herself to the person who supposedly imprisoned her. She wasn't concerned, even a little, about putting herself in danger."

"She's not thinking about Granny right now. She's thinking about her product and how to help people through it. She'd do it at any cost."

"She said that and I believed it, but now she is proving it. I think this will go a long way to convince the court of her position in all of this."

"She was bound to prove it at some point. This is a clever move on Granny's part to find her location. She clearly wants her drugmaker back, and she'll do whatever it takes to get her."

"It is. She's known for being cunning." He paused. "Listen, Weston, since I have you—when I first met Aurelia, I didn't know about the true mate bond. I'd only heard about her connection to Granny."

"And after you found out?" I growled.

If it wasn't for the current situation with the kingdom, that smile would've been enough to send me over the edge. She'd accepted me, and now I would allow no challenges to my claim. None.

"Simply put, she needed the connection, and I was happy to provide it. She wasn't ready for your bond. I assumed you knew that."

He'd feel my affirmation, so I didn't bother voicing it.

He nodded. "I welcomed her attention not just because..." He cleared his throat. "Well, not just for personal reasons, but because I didn't want her to bestow attention upon someone else who was too afraid of you to let her. They would've turned her away, and I felt like she'd had enough rejection in life. Ultimately, I gave in to my own desires because I knew it would also help her. If I'd been interfering, I would've bowed out before she asked me to. Please believe that."

I stopped and faced him, unable to help it, unable to contain my boiling rage.

"You gave in to your own desires? What the fuck does that mean?" I took a step forward. "Did you touch her?"

He flung up his hands. "No! Not at all, no. Nor did she want me to. I gave in to my desire to talk to her and flirt. I did not touch her. I knew that would be crossing the line. She's a remarkable woman, Weston. I've never before been jealous of any man in my life, but I am jealous of you. Take that as the compliment it's meant to be."

It took every ounce of strength to stand down.

I let out the breath I was holding. "She's made her choice. The flirting is over."

"Agreed." His hands were still raised. "It's over. We will still talk, as friends, but she made it clear that she has no interest in anything else, and I respect her wishes."

I stared him down until he lowered his eyes, submitting, before I turned.

"You walk a very fine line, Hannon."

He caught up with me, so fucking nonchalant. He always had been, even before he'd known he couldn't stay dead.

"Sometimes that is on purpose," he said. "I did it with the king, as well. Power feeds me, as you know. Sometimes, I do it for someone else. This time I did it for her. She needed an outlet. I was happy to provide it."

"She seems to have created a lot of loyalty in a short period of time." I couldn't help feeling pride in that, and I hated that my connection to her could possibly undermine the truth of that statement.

"She'll make an excellent half of an alpha pair if you'll trust her with the role."

And now he was telling me my business, sparking my longing for exactly that. It was not easy being around a phoenix when you'd spent most of your life concealing your emotions. It felt like there was nowhere to hide.

"What's taking you?" Hadriel asked as he half jogged by. "Fuck, I'm running again. Clearly something has gone wrong with my life when I find myself exercising."

The royals were in the dining room, Arleth and Delaney included. Half-finished dinners had been pushed away, and Finley had her elbows on the table, her head in her hands. No matter how hard she tried to eradicate Granny's product, it always seemed to work its way back in.

"Hey. Cheer up." Hadriel put a plate of Aurelia's cooking in front of Finley and one in front of Nyfain. "Eat that, it's delicious. What's going on?"

Finley summarized what Hannon had told me, ending, "Micah heard about all your exploits, Hadriel, and wanted to join in on the fun."

"What fun? Granny's?" Hadriel asked, picking up the fork and putting it in Finley's hand. "Eat that, love, trust me. It lifts the spirits. Did Micah not actually listen? Everyone knows it wasn't Granny's drugs, but Aurelia's product."

"No, actually, they don't, Hadriel, and now he's sick and in need of help, and Nyfain doesn't feel comfortable giving it."

"I don't want to accidentally kill him," Nyfain said, leaning over the plate but staring at nothing. "Micah has been pushing the limits again, his dragon more so, and my dragon is ready to force dominance. If we do it like this, that could get ugly."

Micah had been pushing the limits since he'd first arrived in this kingdom. He didn't like the title of beta. He wanted the alpha spot, like in the town or village he'd grown up in, in another kingdom. He'd tried to settle into a commander role, but it chafed, especially with a wolf, me, at the same rank but much better at the job.

"What about Vemar?" Finley asked.

"Not quite strong enough," Nyfain said. "We'd need two dragons against Micah, but there isn't room. We need to get him outside, and then we can deal with him."

"Is he in human form now?" Hadriel asked, using Finley's hand, fork in her fist, to spear a vegetable.

"Yes," Nyfain replied. "Inside the billiard room."

"Okay then, no problem. It'll be fine. Here we go, love. Treat this thing like a kingly dick and shove it in your mouth. You'll thank me."

"Explain," Nyfain said as Hadriel practically forced the food into Finley's mouth.

Hadriel stepped back, looking at her chew. "Simple. Aurelia will handle it."

Finley's eyes lit up, and then her brows drew together as she looked down at the dish. "Whoa, this is good." She waved it away, though, obviously worried about her kingdom. "My village reports that the woman Hadriel brought into town has a way of putting drug users to sleep. There are several eyewitnesses. It's why I asked for her. But Micah is... much more dangerous than anyone she would've encountered in my village."

"And right you were." Hadriel winked. "I was one of those witnesses. Don't worry about the danger. She can handle it."

"You are part of this problem of Micah's," Finley groused, spearing a hunk of meat. "I'm too annoyed to cut this."

"And that is why you pay me the big piles of gold that you do." Hadriel stepped toward her again, treating her like a child. "You're hangry. Come on, keep eating."

"Well, hell, I'm curious." Delaney leaned across the table and speared Nyfain's dinner with her fork.

"And where is?—"

He cut off as Aurelia jogged in carrying an armful of folded tarps. Vemar was right behind her, carrying even more.

"Where to?" Aurelia said.

I led her to the large billiard room. Micah was taller than Nyfain, though not as robust. His brown eyes were wild, and each large hand gripped half of a broken pool stick. Balls littered the ground. Several people stood in there with him, hands out, trying to calm him down. Their power pumped through the air, while tempers ran just as high. Dragons were terrible at handling things in a calm, collected manner. Micah was just about to go berserk.

"Oh yeah, this is great." Aurelia slipped in through the large dragon males, a tiny figure with zero fear. She glanced around as Micah tensed his whole body and roared at the sky.

I was about to shoulder through to her when Hannon put out his hand to stop me. Nyfain was already moving, yanking the dragons out of the way, taking up residence just inside the doorframe.

Micah zeroed in on him, and more power seeped into the air.

"Get him out of here." Aurelia spun and pointed at Nyfain. "Get the fuck out of here. You're making things worse."

"What did?—"

"Go, baby." Finley slipped by me and grabbed his arm, pulling at him. "Go, my love. She's right. He'll challenge, and you'll answer. Go, go. Step out of sight. I'll handle this."

"You can't handle him in human form."

"Would you guys get the hell out of here?" Aurelia shouted, looking around the large room. "All of you. He's not in human form, he's in drug form. It's fine. I've got this."

"Go." Hadriel shooed Finley back, Nyfain with her. "Go, seriously. Trust her. She's very good at knowing what she can handle."

There was no fucking way I was stepping back. I wouldn't leave her to a dragon like Micah. Most of the time he was a good commander, but we'd never gotten along. Trust was hard won, and he'd never tried.

The big dragon shifter stared at me, his face sweaty and pale, his brown hair standing in all directions, eyes manic. He gripped his sticks, leaned back, and roared again.

As the noise died down, a hum in the same pitch rose, the sound calming and tranquil.

Micah cocked his head and turned, finding Aurelia at the back of the room, taking things out of the supply closet. She hummed that tune, keeping his focus and finishing her task quickly. Then she stood in front of the opened door and started a roar of her own, weak and almost silly. He matched it a moment later, suddenly entranced, all his focus on her as she ended in that hum.

Then she picked up a cue ball... and threw it at him in such a fast movement that he had no time to react. It hit him square in the middle of the forehead.

"Oh shit," Hadriel said softly.

Vemar shoved to get past. "He's going to go for her."

Too late.

Micah was closer, he was pissed, and she was his target.