42. Lux

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

LUX

I used my air magic to pop the cork on our second bottle of Cava. Jay sighed like it was the best sound in the world. My heart raced. I topped up her glass and then mine before looking at the label and grimacing. It was a cheap Cava from the mainland. She should be drinking my family's vintage grown here on the island. Hurt and pride made my heart twist. When life with Leberecht had been bad, it had been really bad. But when it was good, I'd been part of something I loved.

Jay grunted and poked me in the side. I tore myself away from the past and read her most recent note off my phone screen. ‘You still came in second. I promise to go easy next game.'

I shook the bottle at her, frowning. "There are only two of us."

She wiggled her eyebrows, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Do not go easy on me." I set the bottle down a little too hard.

Jay's eyes twinkled, and my heart melted. This creature who sat across the board from me was remarkable. No matter how much I didn't want to believe it. No matter how inconvenient her appearance was, she was here. It wasn't just my dragon loving it.

My blood bounced between my brain and my cock while my dragon paced, the fog of my rut thickening and thinning with my vanishing self-control. I knew drinking was a bad idea, but I so rarely indulged. I didn't want to leave Jay's side.

I sipped my Cava and refortified myself. I could do this, be Sister Abby, and only be Jay's friend. I didn't need more.

My dragon hissed unhappily and pushed anger into my blood, though I wasn't sure my human half was capable of anger at the moment. I was giddy on more than the wine. So much of my life I spent alone. But tonight, I wasn't. If my dragon wanted me to stay by her side, I would, but on my terms. The moment my rut took over, I would leap off the massive balcony and make sure I spent the next week far from her and my orphanage.

My dragon didn't like that and calmed.

Jay reached toward the board to reset it, and I forced myself to breathe. Even her simple motions highlighted her beauty. Or, I was desperate to meet someone who liked the same things I did.

A few pieces of the game flew toward me as she accidentally batted them. She let out a slightly intoxicated squeak-giggle, and my heart raced. I caught the pieces with my wind magic and shifted the currents in the air to reset the board for us. "Another round, let's?—"

The sound of a dragon landing on her porch cut off my words—the anger I'd claimed not to be capable of feeling rushed forward. I growled and stood, scales covering my arms and hands. I placed myself between her and the intruder.

Two polite knocks sounded on her balcony. She completely ignored me, rushing forward to throw open the glass and jump into a bulky water dragon's shirtless embrace.

Rehan.

I clenched my fist. How had I forgotten about the love triangle surrounding her? She even sent me a picture of Tyson's romantic picnic. I'd given it a heart. Damn it all.

"Squeak!" She said excitedly.

The water heir leaned down and captured her in a bruising kiss. My vision turned red. Before I could step forward, he pulled back and grunted in pain. He clasped his hand over his balls and sank to the ground, almost landing on a duffle bag he must have dropped.

My dragon and I both blinked in confusion, but my blind rage vanished. I wanted to beat the shit out of him for touching her, but it seemed he beat me to it.

Whatever was wrong with him, this was my home, and Jay played with me. Except I was Sister Abby. Shit. I forced myself to suck in a breath and pushed down my emotions. My inevitable rut eased.

Jay darted past me to get my phone. I snagged her bicep and held her in place.

"Explain yourself," I demanded.

"Explain yourself!" Rehan roared as he pushed to standing, still cupping his balls.

The blood drained from my face, and my gaze darted around the room. I was drinking unchaperoned with Jay, but we hadn't done anything… wait. I was Sister Abby.

"Squeak!" Jay added.

She threw her hands up in the air. I released her, feeling sheepish for grabbing her in the first place. I wrinkled my nose and attempted to regain some of my usual composure. "What exactly are you asking me to explain?"

Rehan jerked back. "You woke Jay up at The Hunt, then you watched her at the fire temple, and now you're here. What part did you play in bringing her to this island? And no lies this time."

Jay jerked back and bit her bottom lip.

My heart raced. I didn't understand most of what Rehan just said, so I couldn't be guilty of it. "I didn't know Jay existed until I found her in that tent." I raised my arms in a display of innocence. "Doctor Raba's assistant, or who I assumed was Doctor Raba's assistant, pushed a needle into my hand and left in a hurry. Jay was going to miss the start. She was the only one still asleep, so I got her up." I shook my cybernetic hand. "I'm powerful and young for a priestess. Mother sent me to the fire temple to observe. She'll vouch for me."

I peeked at Jay and found her nodding with her Cava back in her hands. She took a sip and smiled encouragingly. She believed me. My heart soared.

"I live here. Unlike you." I crossed my arms over my chest, though all it really did was highlight my lack of female anatomy. A thought occurred to me. Three diverse elemental dragons dropped her off. I smiled innocently. "Where are your friends? What are you doing here alone?"

Rehan grunted and bit his lips together. He stood and shook as if banishing his earlier pain. I squared my shoulders, blatantly challenging the water heir. Something sister Abby would never do.

He still didn't answer me.

"Don't make me ask again." My dragon didn't back down as thousands of reasons to submit to the muscle-bound water dragon flitted across my thoughts. But I wouldn't.

Rehan might be looking out for Jay, but I was too.

Rehan shifted his gaze from me to Jay. "Tyson has me under surveillance. I'm sure he's right behind me."

Tyson. I clenched my fists and glanced at Jay. She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her Cava—the Cava we were supposed to be enjoying together. My dragon growled again. This time, the anger from the rut felt right. Rehan was my rival.

Rehan picked up the duffle bag and stepped barefoot into the room. My magic was at my fingertips in a moment, and a swirl of air whipped around him. He stopped moving forward.

I jerked my chin at him. "And the third?"

"I don't know Ogden well enough." Rehan dropped the duffle bag. "I'm here to see my mate and return her phone and belongings."

My heart stilled at the word mate, but I pushed past it. If three dragons were chasing her, it was just a word, not an official bond. I refused to believe anything else. The name ‘Ogden' brought the picture of a lean, dark earth dragon to mind: a powerful warlock, if I remembered correctly.

Tyson, Rehan, and Ogden. Three princes, for all intents and purposes. I glanced at Jay, who took another sip of Cava, drinking in Rehan like she'd spent her entire time here thirsty. My dragon seethed.

She'd been with me!

No. I forced a deep, calming breath of air into my lungs. She'd been with Sister Abby. I needed to step away from this. My life here was peaceful and easy. I wasn't looking for a change. The lie echoed in my thoughts. My dragon sighed. I wouldn't take back any of the time I'd spent with Jay. I clenched my cybernetic hand. Not for anything in the world.

Instead of stepping to the side and doing what my logical brain required of me, I pointed at the bag. A gust of wind sent it sailing into my hands. A phone sat on top of layers of blue cloth. Jay tapped me on the shoulder and looked at me with pleading eyes.

I held up her phone. "None of us are supposed to have phones."

She looked longingly at mine. Her big green eyes and the pout of her mouth made my heart twist. She took the phone out of my hand, and I didn't stop her.

I was so screwed.

"So, do I just stand here until the others arrive?" Rehan asked, eyeing me curiously.

I'd expected the prince to be furious, but he wasn't.

I cleared my throat. "Yes, or you can confirm they're all on their way."

Jay thrust her phone under my nose, and I found myself reading a group chat between the elemental princes.

My world tilted.

The three of them. Three different elements. In a group chat. Together.

The room spun. Elements didn't work together; we'd been separated virtually since coming to this island. We had different ideals, different gods, and different social standards.

Jay pushed her phone toward me again, and I took it with shaking fingers.

Ogden: Ty is incoming.

Ogden: I'm shifting now. Maybe we can get more of your magic unlocked.

Three eggplant emojis followed that message. My jaw dropped. Were the three elemental princes sharing?

A rush of longing clashed with the rage of my simmering rut. My human half wanted to share, my dragon didn't. Pure power washed around me, filling the air with little sparks. The edge of my vision dimmed as my two natures clashed. My legs buckled. I'd never felt anything like this. Only Jay's firm grip wrapped around my arm kept me from falling. A final view of the three names and the three eggplants filled my sight before the world went dark.

I came to with my head pillowed on someone's lap and voices above me. My dragon sat quietly with its head cocked to the side as if watching my human half.

"It says unsold goods tiles equal one victory point, remaining silverling equal one victory point, and every two worker tiles equal one victory point," a rich baritone recited.

"Feck this, I'm not here to think," Tyson said, his voice too familiar.

"We wouldn't want to melt your brain, now, would we?" Rehan's much deeper voice responded.

An inner peace I'd never experienced before sank into my bones. No. It wasn't peace, exactly. It was understanding or hope. Before I analyze it further, Jay's cool hand pressed against my forehead. I looked up into the most beautiful, vivid green eyes I'd ever seen. Her ponytail fell over her shoulder and brushed against the side of my face.

‘You OK?' she mouthed, tossing her hair behind her.

I reached up and pressed my hand into whatever part of her I could. "I am now."

"Sister Abby." Jay leaned back, and Ogden's face replaced her beauty. "Are you hurt?"

I sat up, finding myself hip-to-hip with Jay. Two elemental princes tried to stab me with just their gazes while Ogden grinned. I tensed, expecting my rut to destroy my self-control, but my dragon only watched as an inner calm brought the room into sharp focus.

"She just fainted Og, relax," Jay answered for me.

"I don't think…" I started but trailed off. Maybe this was for the best. What better way to disguise myself as a delicate priestess than to faint like one? "It must have been the wine."

"Good thing I brought a few bottles." Tyson set my bottle of Cava in front of me like they were a personal affront. "Wiggles does not drink this cheap crap, got it?"

‘She should be drinking my wine, you twat,' is what I wanted to say. Instead, I channeled my calm teacher persona. Life was just a series of lessons. I'd just met Tyson, but I already knew he badly needed one.

"We're an orphanage with limited funding." I wrapped my metal hand around the bottle, making it rattle. "We do not have the money for liquor. Usually, the royals stock this room with our local wine. You'll need to take up your complaint with them."

My dragon shifted, my inner peace vibrating with his impatience. He was waiting for me to do something.

A bit of smoke curled out of Tyson's mouth. "She's not drinking air dragon piss either."

My family was a piece of work, but our wine was award-winning. I'd harvested the fields myself as a boy. Scales crawled across my skin as Tyson and I postured.

The three dragon's phones went off simultaneously. The tension in the room vanished. I took a deep breath and rubbed my arms, reminding myself once again I was Sister Abby. Not that my little moment with Tyson mattered now, as their attention was fixed on their phones.

Ogden laughed. Rehan immediately typed a response with a soft smile on his lips.

"I'm going to fix that, Wiggles," Tyson said, wrinkling his nose.

I swallowed down my feeling of being left out and looked at the situation I found myself in. Three of the most powerful and possessive dragons alive sat around a board game, talking about something from a group chat they were in together.

This was literally my dream. My dragon nodded.

Jay bumped my arm and held out her phone. She'd sent them a meme saying, "I'm a connoisseur of every restaurant's second cheapest bottle of wine."

My heart warmed at her inclusion, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, squeezing her to my side. A message from Rehan popped up at the bottom of the chat. ‘As much as I hate agreeing with the hot head, you deserve better.'

Jay rolled her eyes and snatched her phone back before gesturing to the game.

Ogden wrinkled his nose. "It says it only plays up to four."

Jay typed, and the phones plinked. She leaned against me and laced her fingers into my flesh and bone. My heart soared, and she once again turned her phone to me.

Jay: Sister Abby and I will play on a team. I can't talk, and girls should stick together!

A brief guilty twinge pinched my stomach, but it wasn't enough for me to change anything. Instead, I squeezed Jay's fingers and leaned into her shoulder. A smirk pulled at my lips. I had her, and they didn't. My dragon loved it.

Tyson scowled at me while Og laughed again. Rehan wrinkled his nose and shook his head but typed into his phone.

At Jay's insistence, we topped up our Cava and gave a pre-game comradery clinking of the glasses. After our sip, I snatched Jay's flute from her and placed my lips where she'd just drunk from, taking a second swallow. Jay giggled and copied me, though I doubted she knew why. A glasses kiss was a dick move and probably wasted as I was Sister Abby at the moment, but whatever. It made me and my dragon purr.

Tyson looked at me with murder in his eyes. Drinking me was much too bold. I winked at him.

"Sister," Ogden leaned forward, forcing my attention away from the now smoking fire dragon. "It's so good to see you again. The fire ceremony was quite interesting with its energy conversions, yes?"

I nodded. "It was."

Ogden and I talked shop for a solid hour. Like me, he disagreed with elemental separation. Although I'd happily continue our discussion, this wasn't the right time.

Ogden leaned forward, and his gaze dipped to my prosthetic arm. "I'm sorry if this is rude, but are both your parents?—"

I cut him off with a scowl. "Yes."

"Let's not get into this." Rehan waved his hands between Ogden and me.

Odgen ducked his head while I took a relieved breath.

Jay elbowed me in the ribs before pointing at her phone. ‘Are your parents both what?'

I put my hand over her screen and pulled her to me. "I'll tell you when we're alone."

Rehan and Tyson growled.

I pulled Jay closer and smirked. "Girl power."

Maybe if I stayed a woman, we could stay close friends no matter what was happening with the other three. My dick pouted, but I ignored it. Friendship was more important than sex.

Rehan stopped growling first and took a deep breath. "Fine, we'll play this game, all of us."

Tyson snorted. "If we're not helping Wiggles out tonight, then I'm not staying."

"I thought you said not until—" Ogden started.

"I say a lot of things," Tyson snapped, picking up a game piece and lobbing it at the earth dragon. A faint blush covered his cheeks.

I blinked. What was going on?

"Fine by me." Rehan smiled broadly. "I'm sure she'll pick the dragon who only spends time with her to get laid."

My eyebrow twitched. I'd assumed the trio were friends, but this, being some weird competition, fit so much better with dragon nature. The realization bashed my earlier excitement and replaced it with drive. This was a game—a mental battle of wills and logic. I wasn't using my fists, but that didn't mean I wasn't fighting. My dragon loved all of it and took another step back.

Tyson snarled. "I'm not trying to get laid, and Wiggles knows it." He snapped his attention to Jay, who snuggled into me like I was a piece of furniture and yawned.

With confidence I didn't know I possessed, I dropped my cybernetic hand, resting it on Jay's hip, and gave Tyson a toothy grin. Tonight, this fantastic creature chose me, and I would enjoy every minute of it.

Tyson snarled, smoke curling out of his nose. "Fine, fecking fine, I'll wipe your asses, and then we'll toss the priestess out and free more of Wiggles."

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at the woman resting her back against my side. I didn't see anything holding her in place.

"Ixnay on the freeingnay," Ogden said before smiling brightly. "Girls, you go first!"

My curiosity bubbled like the Cava in my glass, but Sister Abby wouldn't pry. In addition, Ogden was the only one of the trio who hadn't growled at me. If anything, he seemed as excited as me to have all four elements in one room.

Jay leaned across the board, giving Rehan a fantastic view of her cleavage, and made our opening move. When she finished, we clinked glasses. She crossed her legs, and her knee rested against mine. My heart raced, and my dick twitched.

This woman was going to be the death of me.