Chapter 3

Aidan

Aidan stared out the window, his hands clasped behind his back while his sister stole choice pieces of his leftover food. She’d arrived a few minutes before while he ruminated over his war preparations. Spending at least half his days in the office had never been part of the plan when he took over as Pendragon.

He wished he could take his work outside more often so he could watch his son play and be near his mate. That would have been an option if he didn’t have to handle near-constant war planning, but those opportunities proved rare lately.

The large room where he regularly found himself ensconced provided absolute privacy through a magic-blocking spell and prevented anyone from overhearing the conversations that took place within it. They suspected the Kandoran had ways of spying on them from afar. He couldn’t take any chances with sensitive information, so Aidan forced himself to stay near his desk whenever he handled war preparations. That took eighty percent of his waking hours in recent weeks.

“Brother, you’re doing an impressive job,” Phoebe said, settling into a chair across the room with his plate in her hand. She appeared completely relaxed and even hung a leg over one of the arms, bouncing it in a regular rhythm as she chewed bite-sized meat morsels.

Aidan had gotten quite good at hiding his feelings and thoughts from everyone, so she could not sense the stress he was experiencing.“Thank you.”

From his sister’s perspective, he’d become the epitome of a fearless and competent leader. That image was something he worked to project to everyone under his protection. He intended to keep it that way, only allowing Bailey to see the other side he kept hidden from others. As his mate, he trusted her to see the weaker parts of him where he held all his doubts and concerns. She was truly perfect for him. He was grateful she’d returned soon after he took over, providing the support he needed to do what he must.

With her at his side, the mantle of leadership didn’t feel quite as burdensome, but after more than two centuries of avoiding it, he still felt astonished that he’d become pendragon. The concept of nearly a thousand lives—including the humans and sorcerers residing within the fortress—relying on him for their safety and well-being daunted him. Ways to do right by them consumed his thoughts.

Aidan cleared his throat. “Would you like to update me on the recruits now, or do you still need a few minutes to eat my food?”

Phoebe gave him a shameless grin. When she’d arrived and found a full tray of meats and cheeses the servants had left on a side table for him, she’d focused on that rather than him. He’d had a few bites before her arrival, but the constant flow of visitors who came to his office prevented him from partaking of more. It didn’t bother him that his sister behaved relaxed when they were alone, and he even preferred it.

“If it helps, I’ve got good news.” She licked her fingers. “The recruits are advancing much faster than expected. I think the impending war is motivating them to train harder and take my instructions seriously.”

“Do you think they’ll be ready?” he asked.

Phoebe dropped her leg and set the empty plate aside. “Last I heard from our uncle Kade, we have two to six weeks until the Kandoran attack. Definitely before the weather turns cold. If they come sooner, I think the recruits will still be an asset in battle, but their chances of survival won’t be great. The longer we have to train them, the better, so let’s hope for the best.”

He worked his jaw, hating the idea of sending any of his people to die, even if he had no choice. “That is one facet. Gathering the best intelligence and allies, as well as formulating a clever plan, will make a difference in their survival as well.”

“Where are you sending my mate?” she asked, narrowing her gaze. “Ozara won’t tell me anything, which is ridiculous.”

Aidan wouldn’t apologize for that. “As she shouldn’t. Her mission is critical to our survival, and no one must know besides those directly involved.”

Phoebe leaped to her feet, cheeks turning red. “I’m her mate and your sister. I’m more involved than anyone, and you know it! I have a right to know.”

He’d wondered about the underlying tension he’d sensed despite her playing it cool.

“Sit down,” he ordered sternly.

She sank into the chair with her back ramrod straight, unable to disobey him.

Aidan came around his desk to stand before her with a stoic look, altering his bearing to full pendragon mode. “The only thing you need to know is she is going voluntarily. I asked her to do this, but I did not order her. Telling anyone else about her mission will only put her in further danger, and I will not do that—not even for you.”

“But…”

He held up his hand. “Stop wasting my time and yours. Go train your people so that they might survive the battles to come. If I can allow the mother of my child to go into danger, you can do the same.”

“Right.” Phoebe swallowed, and mixed emotions came over her face, including sadness, regret, and remorse. “Sometimes I forget we have similarities in our relationships, and you’ve got it worse with yours out there even more often. I’m sorry, brother. This is the first time she’ll have to do something truly dangerous since having our daughter, and it’s making me nervous.”

Aidan studied her for a moment. As the pendragon, he’d steadily gained abilities he hadn’t had before, allowing him to be in better touch with his toriq. He could sense moods and sometimes even knew if a clan member was injured or dying. Each day, he understood and mastered those connections a little more. He noted his sister’s aura and scent had changed recently. It took him a moment, but understanding dawned on him as he figured out what fueled her impetuous behavior.

His shoulders relaxed. “Pregnancy is likely affecting you as well.”

“What?” She touched her belly. “That can’t be…you couldn’t know that! It’s too early to be certain.”

“Lorcan’s last visit was nearly three weeks ago. I have no doubt he succeeded this time in impregnating you, even if it does seem early,” Aidan said, giving Phoebe a gentle smile. He had to be tough on her as the pendragon, but this was personal. Now, he could be her brother for a moment.

A sheen of tears filled her eyes. “I can’t believe it. How could you tell when you didn’t even recognize your mate was pregnant this early?”

He winced at that reminder. How Aidan wished he could have known sooner and found a way to protect Bailey better. He had to tell himself it wasn’t his fault, though it still felt like it.

“Father was not wrong about the advantages of being a pendragon.” He stood and moved toward his sister, leaning down to hug her gently. “I can discern many things now that I could not before. Congratulations, sister.”

As he pulled away, she shook her head. “I didn’t think it would happen before the war, but I figured I had to take every chance I could get regardless.”

Aidan mulled over the ramifications. He needed all his assets if they were to survive and win, but he could move them around as needed. His sister could no longer lead her recruits when the time came—that would be far too dangerous—but she could still prove helpful in other ways that were every bit as important.

“In light of this, you will oversee protecting the fortress now. If the Kandoran breach the shield, this will be our last line of defense,” he said, tipping her chin up with his finger. “Pregnant or not, I know you’ll protect our home better than anyone.”

Phoebe’s expression became hardened and resolved. “I will. Thank you for giving me an honorable job despite my…um, condition.”

He smiled fondly at her as she pressed a hand to her belly. “Of course, sister.”

Someone knocked firmly on the door. Aidan returned to his desk and positioned himself behind it, already sensing who stood on the other side. “Enter.”

“Milord.” Falcon stepped inside, closed the door, and gave him a respectful bow. “Two Shadowan representatives are waiting outside the gates.”

He wasn’t surprised. More than a month ago, he’d sent word to their toriq that he would like to form an alliance, and he’d briefly met with their pendragon—Volker. At the time, the response had been hesitant. The last report Aidan received said the Kandoran had become more active along the Shadowan border, which must have made them rethink their plans. He’d instructed the Taugud roving guards to allow up to two envoys from other clans to come to the fortress if they requested an audience with him.

Aidan glanced at his sister. “Resume your class in the smaller training area inside the fortress for the rest of the day.”

This meant that her students would have to practice in human form, but they needed to know how to battle in each form. Normally, they had years to perfect various methods and styles. Their newest recruits would not have that luxury, but all shifters received six months of training when they reached maturity. The classes covered defensive and offensive fighting in both forms, so they weren’t starting at the beginning.

“I assumed as much,” she said, rising to her feet.

He waited until she left the office and shut the door. Then he turned his attention to Falcon. The older shifter had dark brown hair he kept at shoulder length, a large muscular frame, and light olive skin. He radiated warrior strength, yet his yellow eyes also held wisdom beyond most others.

“What do you think of the messengers?” Aidan asked.

The shifter was nearly three hundred years older than him and had proven shrewd with his council. He would have made an excellent pendragon himself if he’d come from a family with a better reputation—his siblings and parents were well-known troublemakers.

Despite his questionable background, Falcon provided invaluable advice and served as a liaison to the humans in Norman. He’d had excellent success coordinating with them over recent weeks to fortify defenses and plan strategies to assist them all in fighting and surviving. Aidan had also designated him as his second-in-command.

“I believe the Shadowan are here to agree to an alliance,” Falcon said.

He cocked his head. “Are you certain?”

He hated to get his hopes up, even if the prospect appeared high. The Taugud had defeated the Shadowan in battle years ago despite the odds against them and Aidan’s father dying during the fight. Primarily, it was achieved by using clever negotiating tactics to force their northern neighbor to back down. Both toriqan continued to feel animosity toward each other, but the pure dragons were an impressive force and would help bolster their army against the Kandoran. They needed everyone they could get.

“Yes.” He nodded. “Something about their manner tells me they’re almost desperate to join us now.”

Relief filled Aidan. “Let’s go speak with them.”

They quickly made their way out of the castle, through the cobblestone walkway bisecting the village keep, and past the front gates. Two massive green dragons crouched and waited a short distance away in the open field. Everyone else had left the area besides a handful of red shifter dragons. He was grateful Bailey went into Norman on some matter with the town council and that Ozara had taken Orion to her home. It would be unlikely the Shadowan would attack when they wished to ally, but he wouldn’t have liked his son anywhere near them.

Normally, Aidan would have gone to the landing pad to shift—they preferred to avoid burning more holes in the grass outside—but he didn’t dare waste time. He and Falcon lit into flames to meet the newcomers in their beast forms as quickly as possible.

As he shifted, he telepathically instructed the guards that the spot where they stood would now be another location to transition when they had pure dragons arriving at their gates. He had stopped a mere fifty feet from the entrance to the fortress, making it a more convenient location.

After finishing his shift, he looked up at them. Both were several times larger than him, but their auras were much weaker than his. One more thing he could now do was intuitively estimate the strength of those around him. His father had said that the more adoration his people had for him, the more innate gifts he would gain as a pendragon. He’d told all his children these thingsbutoften addressed Aidan the most when advising them. Looking back, perhaps he’d had more faith than any of them realized. Could he have known his eldest sons undermined his youngest—the one with the most promise in his eyes? So many questions that he’d never know the answers.

I am Aidan—pendragon of the Taugud, he said, speaking telepathically. Why have you come?

The green dragon on the right lifted his head. Our pendragon, Volker, sent us. He wishes to discuss an alliance with you against the Kandoran.

I thought he wished for the Shadowan to face them alone. What changed?

Aidan would not show any hint of eagerness at their arrival. He had too many alliances to form and would not give concessions. Everyone needed to work cohesively against a common enemy and avoid hostilities against each other for an acceptable period. The messengers were doing their best to appear emotionless, but he detected a hint of fear and turmoil in them. Something had terrified them. They’d glanced to the west several times as if monsters might appear from nowhere to attack them.

Two nights ago, the Kandoran entered our territory. We are unsure how they did it, but they managed to slaughter fifty of our dragons who lived outside our jakhal. No witnesses were left alive, but the deaths were gruesome. Most were mutilated beyond recognition. In addition, we’ve seen a surge of refugees from the Nazaran and Vataran. They have been losing territory and dragons in recent months. From what we understand, they do not know how much longer they can maintain what they have left, and many of their members seek asylum.

Both of those toriqan resided north of the Kandoran and Shadowan territories. They’d once been sizeable and fearsome, and it worried Aidan how many dragons they might have lost. Some could have been absorbed into the enemy army, rendering it even more powerful. The Kandoran used magic to sway their opponents to their side if their mental barriers weren’t strong enough to resist.

Every dragon they convert will be another we must fight, and the war will be that much more challenging to win. We must allow refugees onto our lands, or else we’ll end up facing them later, Aidan warned.

The Shadowan shook his large head. We’ve accepted hundreds already, but we can only allow so many before our resources are overtaxed. Have you taken any?

As of yet, none have come to us. Aidan lifted his chin. But I have designated land in my territory's northern and southern tracts where those seeking refuge may stay if they wish. This is only a temporary inconvenience to our resources. My seers predict the Kandoran will attack us in full force sometime in the next few weeks, and we need to be prepared when that happens.

The green dragons glanced at each other before the main speaker returned his gaze. We lack powerful seers who can predict events so far in advance. Are you confident of this?

I am, Aidan said. It has been confirmed by human and dragon sorcerers within my territory, as well as sources within the Faegud. We have no doubts.

I’ll take this information to my pendragon. Will you meet us at the border in two days near sunset? the Shadowan asked, then projected a mental image of the exact location. It was within Oklahoma City near an old mall where Bailey used to hunt—at least until the dragons began to avoid the area because of her attacks.

He hid his amusement at the thought. I will be there.

I should warn you that slayers frequent the area, but they never attack if our numbers are considerable enough. We should be secure as long as we each bring a few dragons.

Aidan swished his tail. I have an agreement with the slayers, and I can assure you they will not be anywhere near us while we talk. Do not worry about them.

Leverage? The green dragon’s red eyes narrowed in suspicion.

He’d certainly had leverage over a slayer in his bed last night, but he hesitated to tell them about his mate. They needed the Shadowan on their side before revealing too much. They are allowed to live within the safety of my territory as long as they do not harm my people.

We would never consider such an idea, the dragon scoffed.

Aidan cocked his head. As a result, you continue to lose members to them, whereas I do not. They have even sworn to fight alongside us in the upcoming war.

You’re delusional to think they can control themselves that well. Never mind that no one can bargain with a slayer and live, but we will discover the truth soon enough.

Aidan would not argue further with a messenger. The Faegud didn’t believe it at first, either, and only began to trust Bailey after seeing her up close and witnessing her impressive control. They also appreciated her fighting prowess when she fought alongside them.

You may go with Zorya, he said to the Shadowan. Tell Volker I look forward to meeting him in two days to discuss this further and, if he approves of the alliance, to prepare for a gathering with other pendragons in the near future. There is much to do and very little time to prepare.

The green dragon dipped his chin. Zorya be with you.

Aidan watched as the two Shadowan took off into the air. For the most part, the meeting had gone well, and he had high hopes he’d bring another toriq to their side. The Bogaran to their east had already agreed to join them a month ago and would send a group to train and strategize soon. They also said they’d ensure the Takaran along the Gulf Coast came with them. He was still waiting to hear from the other territories in the region he’d contacted. They’d need all of them if they hoped to win.