74. Jayce

CHAPTER 74

Jayce

March-

It's been fourteen days since the last attempt on anyone's life. Since then, life has been pretty good. The babies are growing quickly. Especially since if we leave our chambers, they return to the forms of their animals. Aurora and the children are in the main landing area today because the babies keep trying to fly. Alaric feels it's time for them to start learning. So, he's lying down, letting the babies climb up him and jump off of his head. Aurora and Nicodeamus are cracking up, catching the babies when they don't quite get the lift they need. Ladon seems to get the longest hang time when he jumps.

Aurora doesn't have a care in the world right now. Well, all she cares about is her mates and babies. Alaric is nervous, but he won't say anything to Aurora. Klaus and I are terrified for Aurora; we don't want her to die. Klaus comes over to join me at the bench, carrying the laptop and drinks for us.

We sit side by side, booking the last of the flights for my people, as well as the American Lycans my brother feels are loyal. This morning, Alex sent word that he had to put almost a dozen Lycan down because they tried to cause an uprising. Without their Alpha, they are more prone to their base urges and for Lycans, it's to battle.

Ten hours until battle time, and my nerves are shot. Klaus, Dimitri, and I spent a good three hours in and out of bed with Aurora this morning, trying to dickmatize her into not wanting to battle. Her answer was that honor dictates she answer the challenge. I get that. I really do, but she's a mom now and they should come before honor and duty. Currently, Dominik and Dimitri are in the pit, making sure it can withstand what will happen tonight.

Several hours pass, and it's dinner time. We decide to dine alone in our private chambers so Aurora can relax. The babies are the size of toddlers, walking around all wobbly. Still babbling since their human vocal cords haven't fully developed yet. Ladon has learned to speak through the bond, mostly through direct contact with the family's non-dragon members. Tiamat doesn't even try since Ladon speaks for both of them most of the time. His parents and grandfather can hear him over a distance through the bond.

In a way, I'm a bit jealous of that level of connection to the children. But I know in time I'll have my own pup to have that special connection with. In a way, it's great that the dragon babies were born first. They'll help protect their younger siblings.

A knock sounds at the door and Dimitri moves to open it. The pit master is at the door. Nicodeamus walks over to him with the list of dignitaries that are allowed to witness the battle tonight. None of us know what Aurora is going to do, or honestly what she's capable of since Oberon's visit. Aurora's power and her beast seem to be more focused and in tune with her. There are no more internal power struggles or wars going on that would lead to her lashing out over nothing. The guys and I are concerned about what's going to happen tonight, especially since she's so deadly calm right now.

Aurora watches the exchange at the door and goes back to eating her almost raw venison. She isn't being snobbish about her power or swinging it around like a big dick in the wind. I feel it's like she's playing a huge poker tournament. She's holding her cards close to her chest, so no one knows what to expect from her.

Here it is, go time. Aurora has Klaus in what looks like a mobile DJ booth, up in one of the standard viewing booths. Aurora has apparently set a playlist for this battle. Dimitri said that Aurora always has a soundtrack for every part of her life. Every big event and challenge, she's pinned a song to it, just to keep her focused.

Camile enters the pit first and goes through her shift, nothing theatrical like Aurora does. She's rather large for a Red Dragon and a female to boot. Camile proves her power and dominance by blowing, and sustaining, a stream of fire for a long time before roaring.

I watch Klaus's eyes bleed to mercury when Aurora reaches out to him. Klaus's eyes meet mine and the other mates before he nods his head. The song Aurora chose to walk into the pit is "Feel Invincible" by Skillet. The first few powerful hits of the bass and guitar trigger the side doors to blow open.

Aurora enters in a cloud of frost-like mist. Aurora is wearing a two-piece bikini with a sheer robe that shimmers in the light like diamonds. The part comes when the singer hits "There's a reason to fight," she points up to us then sends a wave of frost to coat the pit. Aurora cracks her neck, still prowling around the pit, looking Camile over. Aurora's eyes are that of her beast, and she's searching for weaknesses. I see Alaric's, Nicodeamus's, and Dimitri's eyes are all mercury. They apparently are teaching her about Red Dragons.

There's the smirk I was waiting to see from Aurora. She nods her head slowly then wiggles her finger for Camile to attack. I'm borderline ready to have a heart attack. Aurora is just standing there when Camile opens her dragon's maw and rains fire down upon her. It looks like a river of lava flowing over her, I can't see her and I'm terrified.

Alaric and Dominik come over to hold me, telling me to have faith in our mate. Then it happens, a mass of frost starts to overpower the fire. Aurora is fully shifted, and her beast is mammoth; roaring blue frost flames—like Nicodeamus can do—right back at Camile. Camile's dragon leaps back, not sure what to make of the hybrid beast before it.

Aurora looks like an interesting blending of her Dragon and Lycan bloodlines. Aurora stands bi-pedal like a Lycan—her feet are all Lycan. The shape of Aurora's head is mostly Lycan with some dragon traits. Aurora's taloned gauntlets look even more lethal than they did before. Aurora's body shape is basically Lycan except for the addition of scale armor on her arms, legs, and muzzle. Aurora takes full advantage of Camile's shock and charges at her by launching up into the air. The talons on her hands and the claws on her feet gain purchase on Camile's scales.

Camile attempts to shake Aurora off of her, only causing more damage to herself in the process. Aurora makes several swipes, and Camile's left wing falls to the ground before Aurora leaps off and lands on a column of stone. Her talons sink deeply into the sandstone as she watches Camile writhe and roar in pain.

Camile's blood is spraying everywhere as she spins and thrashes. Aurora picking her moment, leaps off of the column to land on Camile again and starts to rip at her scales. Camile can almost reach Aurora when she slides off Camile's side to slip under her. In a swift decisive move, Aurora goes and disembowels Camile, using her talons to rip along the seam of her soft underbelly. Intestines slither their way out of Camile's abdomen and onto the pit's floor. Aurora is bathed in Camile's blood as she stands back, watching Camile look at her mortal wound.

In an attempt to save herself, Camile shifts back to human and begins to plead with Aurora, begging to be saved. Aurora shifts back to human and slowly saunters over to Camile. A soft smile plays upon Aurora's lips as she goes and embraces Camile. We are all really fucking puzzled by this show of sympathy from Aurora.

Ever so gently, Aurora kisses away Camile's tears then moves and kisses her lips, almost passionately. I am definitely having a what the fuck moment up here. It's hot as fuck that our mate is kissing another woman, but her? Just as Camile is getting lost in it, I hear the ignitor click.

Aurora swiftly becomes covered in frost and shoots her blue flames down Camile's throat. Aurora's flames burn through the back of Camile's neck, leaving the girl's severed head in Aurora's hand. Aurora spins around in the pit, holding up the head high, and our people cheer and chant her name. Every day I'm in awe of my mate and what she can do. Today, awe doesn't even come close to what I'm feeling right now.

Collectively we run down to the receiving room, where the fighters go after battle. Aurora is sitting on the back of one of the War Dragons in his shifted form. Thank the gods the room is big enough for him to be here. Aurora's hand is running over his scales, glowing faintly. If I'm correct, she is siphoning power from him to recharge herself to full strength.

When we arrive, Aurora slides down to the ground and walks over to us gracefully. She gives me a wink then mouths fatality to me. Apparently, we've been playing a little too much MK in our spare time.

We all take turns hugging and kissing Aurora, checking her over just to make sure she's in one piece. Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the servants walking out with Camile's head on a silver platter, off to be prepared for the collection. Aurora is perfectly calm and relaxed as she moves between all of us. Tiamat and Ladon both chirp for their mother's attention, and Aurora gladly gives it to them. Aurora quickly moves to sit on the floor, allowing her to hug them both simultaneously.

Nicodeamus makes the motion to get me to follow him, so I do without question. "Yes, Dad?"

He smiles, looking at me, then back towards everyone else in the group. "Aurora's actions shocked us all tonight; you are not alone in feeling that way. Her great-grandmother was the last dragoness able to breathe fire in her human form. I don't know what King Oberon did, but whatever it was has made her more lethal." Nicodeamus shrugs his shoulders and looks at me. "How are you handling it, Jayce? I know you're more sensitive to her changes than the other mates."

I ponder his question for several moments before formulating a response. "It's scary how she goes from chaos to peace. The flaming death kiss was definitely over the top for ways to kill enemies. I love her and will do anything for her. But I'll be honest, that scared me." I motion with my hands back towards the pit and then look lovingly back at my mate before turning to Nicodeamus. "I know she's better equipped to face what's coming, but that doesn't make me any less afraid for her. We have babies now. They need all of us." I sigh as I realize that I've gotten to the heart of what's really bothering me about all the changes.

Nicodeamus gives me a knowing smile and then kisses my temple. "See, you figured out the problem all by yourself. I'm proud of you, Jayce. Now you just need to talk to your mate and bond mates about your concerns. I'm sure everyone will be happy to listen to you." Nicodeamus just smiles and walks away.