Chapter Twenty-Four

I started training the Dragons the very next day. First, we went through combat training in their main forms, then we moved on to dragon forms. Normally, females weren't permitted to fight even though they tended to be more competent at the art of war than males. It was a procreation thing. We didn't want to risk losing a Dragon who could give birth. But this was a special circumstance, and the women wanted to fight. I was hoping the appearance of females on the battlefield would act in our favor in multiple ways. We'd have their ferocity to bolster our ranks and the other army would be hesitant to hurt them. So, I allowed them to train.

After a few weeks of this, the Dragons were competent, and I added training sessions with the Castle Guard. The Guard already had combat training, so all they needed were some pointers on how to take down Dragons—things no other Dragon would have told them. I wouldn't have shared our weaknesses either if the situation hadn't been so dire. It was a sort of unspoken law that you don't divulge those things to members of another race. But my race was turning against me.

As the days went by, I grew confident. The Eye kept watch on my dread, reporting back to me every night. The lack of a lower class had crippled them and given us the time we needed to prepare. Every day that passed without the dread marching on Renris felt like a gift, but it also wore on my mind. I knew I was losing myself. The mating bond had locked into place and given me some breathing room, but the damage was done. My mate still didn't know who he was to me, and that combined with the mental picking of the Eye to tear at my sanity.

Teaching non-Dragons to kill my kind didn't help either.

“You must use every skill available to you!” I said as I walked down the aisle between fighting partners.

Now that the Dragons were at an acceptable level, they helped me train the non-Dragons, pairing up with them so they'd have actual Dragons to practice on. The Castle Guard had been joined by members of my army (the non-Dragon army) and the City Horns. They rotated daily and took what they learned back to their fellows.

“Use Air against them,” I said to an Argaiv. “You cannot fight a Dragon with Fire or Water, but they cannot create fire without air. Take it from them!”

“Yes, Sire!” the man shouted, and a whirlwind sucked up the air around his Dragon opponent.

Not only did this kill the flames the Dragon started to summon, but it also sent the man gasping to the ground.

“Good!” I slapped the Argaiv's shoulder. “But that's enough. He's just a sparring partner, not your true opponent.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” He drew back his magic. “Sorry, Gress.”

Gress, the Argaiv's Dragon partner, sucked in a breath, his eyes wide. “I didn't know you could do that.”

“Neither did I,” the Argaiv said.

I moved on, watching a Brandva fight fire with fire, turning a Dragon woman's attack back on her with a heat shield. Then he dove for her, taking her down. I nodded in approval. It was the best he could do under those circumstances.

Next were a few of Aras's men. My mate stood nearby, coaching them on using their Earth Magic to deflect the flames of their opponents. When the Dragons switched to Water, the Hulfrin summoned stones—some using the rocks as shields while one Hulfrin used a boulder to send his opponent flying.

“Excellent!” I said, my stare wandering to Aras.

Aras held my gaze a moment before looking back at his men. It was a bit of a dismissal, and I deserved it. I'd been treating him poorly. Not as poorly as I had the night of the welcome feast, but enough to keep him at a distance. Despite deserving his dismissal, my ire rose in response. Aras was mine. I grew more and more possessive of him every day, despite the mating magic settling. I knew it was because I hadn't fully claimed him. I wanted to roar it to everyone there—to warn them away from what was mine. And to warn him. I wanted to make it the most clear to Aras.

But I couldn't.

Soon, the Eye cooed to me. Soon, he will be yours completely.

Soon, my erratic behavior will drive him away, I growled back.

I will not allow it. Once you have me, all will be well. You just need to find me.

Why can't you simply tell me where you are? I asked again.

I've told you that I am over water. There is water all around me. I cannot see anything beyond it. But I will keep looking for clues in my environment. I will keep listening. You know I must focus on one thing at a time. So, if I am there, I cannot be here. Nor can I be watching your enemy.

I don't understand why you cannot draw your attention out until you see where you are. You travel from here to Vacrond. Why can't you travel from here to your physical location and tell me where you are?!

As I've said every time you've asked that question, the water interferes with my magic. I can't completely focus until my consciousness is beyond the ocean, projected onto dry land. I must travel through our connection and enter you before I can see. But once I'm here, I cannot see there.

I don't understand.

Because you are not a god. You can't comprehend how putting divine magic into a jewel creates limitations. Shall I explain the laws of the universe to you?

Aras looked up and frowned. I must have been standing there too long. Probably staring at him strangely. I moved on as I mentally replied to the Eye, Go, then. Watch that ship and listen for a clue to your location. Stay as long as you have to. It's been over three weeks since we lost that pirate, and he still hasn't surfaced. Or maybe he has, but the watchers I've posted haven't seen him.

At least you have some Dragons out there now, she said. These recruits may not know that particular Neraky's scent, but they can at least scan for a Neraky surfacing above Shasenai.

Still, it's a near-hopeless search. And I've no other way to find you. All this pain I'm causing my mate is pointless. He can't help either, not until we get your location. So, you must find yourself!

Or you could help me.

What?

There is something we could try—something that would increase my power so that I could pinpoint my location.

Why haven't you mentioned this before?!

Because you must give me your mind first.

I went silent.

Yes, I expected resistance from you, she said. But we are in dire straits. We don't know how much longer we have before the Gavemor Dread starts marching.

The Gavemor Dread is here.

You know what I mean.

Wait. The dread? So, the other nobles are banding with those from Vacrond? You said they were scared.

They waver. Whether they will join the rebellion remains uncertain.

The rebellion. How awful was it that I had viewed my side as that of rebels? I was the fucking King! The Eye was right; they were the rebels. I growled, my hands clenching into fists.

“Your Majesty?” one of the soldiers paused to ask.

“Just clearing my throat,” I said.

“Yes, Sire.” He went back to training.

What exactly would happen? I asked the Eye. If I gave you my mind, what would be the process? What would I have to do?

You would lower all your resistance and allow me to take control of your mind. With your physical body grounding me and your Water Magic shielding me, the element of water will cease to affect me.

It made sense. It also terrified me. To give up all control? It already felt as if I had no control over her presence. But if I lowered my resistance, she could—

I just need you for your magic, Lyrandir. I don't want to remain in your body forever. Why would I when I have the freedom of being pure energy? Restricting myself to a single physical object is like walking into a cage. I will want to leave as soon as possible.

Fine. But I want some time alone to prepare.

We should do this as soon as possible.

After I get some fucking peace!

Fine! The Eye's presence left my mind.

I let out a sigh of relief. The Eye had become a weight upon me. A mental shroud that dulled my reason and shortened my temper. With her gone, I felt like a different person.

“Your Majesty?” an Eljaffna man stepped up to me. “Could we speak privately?”

“Very well.” I glanced at Aras and found him staring at one of his men—his ex-lover. My chest clenched. When Aras started to look my way, I acted out of jealousy and laid a hand on the Eljaffna's shoulder. I could feel Aras's stare and it encouraged me to take the ruse further. “This way,” I said, leading him out of the training yard via a route that was close enough to Aras for him to overhear us. “There should be an empty sitting room just through here.”

The snarl and aggressive rumble coming from behind me made my lips twitch. So, here was yet another way to keep Aras interested despite all my strange behavior. Jealousy. I should have known. He was a man who liked to be controlled, and jealousy was just another tool for control.

The Eljaffna man lifted a brow at my familiar behavior. But once we were inside the castle, with the door shut behind us, I dropped my hand and acted as if I hadn't been flirting at all.

“Ah, here we are,” I said when we came to an open door. I went into the room beyond and waved the Eljaffna to a seat. The fireplace was laid with logs. I blew a stream of fire over them and set them to burning before I sat down. “Macir, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I'm Macir.” He inclined his head, silken blond hair falling around his beautiful face.

As a whole, the Eljaffna were lovely. Tall, willowy, and graceful. If I were into that type of man, I would be genuinely attracted to Macir. But I preferred thicker men with a coating of striped fur and ice-blue eyes that could stare into a man's soul.

“Your Majesty?” Macir leaned forward.

I cleared my throat. “I'm sorry. My mind wandered to tasks I need to do today. What is it you wanted to speak to me about?”

“You've trusted me and my people with the weaknesses of your race, Sire,” Macir said. “No Dragon has ever done that.”

“No Dragon has ever asked their army to stand against their dread either,” I said. “I cannot expect you to fight for me without giving you every advantage possible.”

He nodded. “Still, it is a great honor and in light of it, my people—those of your kingdom—have agreed to confide in you as well.”

That got my attention. “Go on.”

“We Eljaffna have a special ability that we do not share with outsiders. I ask that you share this only with people who absolutely need to know.”

“You have my word. What is this ability? Can it help you battle Dragons?”

“Oh, yes, Sire. It can help us battle Dragons in both forms.”

“Tell me.”

“We gain power from blood. All know that,” Macir said. “But there is more to it than rapid healing and enhanced immortality. If we drink enough of an individual's blood, we can control them.” He smirked. “Like a puppet on a string.”

My jaw fell open.

Macir held up an elegant hand as if warding me off. “It is only temporary, but we could make Dragons switch sides, Your Majesty.”

I leaned forward. “How much blood would you need?”

“There's the issue. We need at least three sips and taking such a drink in the middle of a battlefield is difficult.”

“You will need a Dragon to help you,” I said. “Someone who can distract your opponent or restrain them long enough for you to take their blood.”

“Yes, Sire. If we could just get a hold of them from behind, we'd be able to latch on for long enough. But that can be tricky.”

“I imagine it would. Especially with a beast.”

“Your Majesty, I'm sure you can understand how terrible it would be for my people if this information spread. We'd be ostracized. The other races would be too afraid to interact with us. We might even be run out of the city.”

“I will not share this information with anyone unless it's absolutely necessary, and then I will swear them into silence,” I vowed. “Not even the Dragons I pair you with will know. I'll tell them that blood-draining will weaken our enemies, that is all.”

“And when they see those Dragons switch sides?”

“A lot of baffling things happen in war. There won't be time to question them and when it's over, we'll either be dead or celebrating our victory.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I took his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Macir. Thank you for trusting me with this secret. It could win this war for us.”

“You are good to my people, King Lyrandir. Fair. We don't want to risk another king. So, we fight for ourselves as well as you.”

“Then I'm relieved that you see my treatment of your people as fair. I—”

The door opened and Aras stormed in. His stare went to my hand—the one holding Macir's. With a snarl, he launched himself at the Eljaffna.

Macir shrieked and jumped away as I dove between the men. I caught Aras around the middle and we hit the couch, knocking it backward. I looked up to see Macir against the wall, hand at his throat in dismay.

“Go!” I snapped. “And shut the door!”

Macir ran for the door and drew it shut behind him. Meanwhile, Aras struggled to get free of me, his stare locked on the fleeing Eljaffna and his claws out.

“Aras!” I shook him. “Aras, stop!”

He jerked his head to look back at me. “You said it was only me. You said I could kill anyone you betrayed that vow with.”

“I haven't betrayed my vow.”

“I saw you! I saw you flirt with him. And I saw you holding his hand. That is enough of a betrayal for me.” Aras bared his teeth at me. “Now, I get to kill him!”

“I held his hand while I thanked him because he'd just confided a secret in me. A secret that could help us greatly.”

Aras struggled again. “Let me go!”

“Stop it!” I shook him. “Listen to me. I am not fucking him!”

“I don't believe you!”

The words echoed between us. They echoed in my heart. My suddenly hollow heart. It was fair. I didn't deserve his trust. If Aras knew what I was keeping from him, he might never believe anything I said ever again. But still, it stung. I could feel the muscles in my face twitching. Aras seemed to mirror me, his face going through the same gymnastics.

“Lyrandir,” he whispered in horror.

I bent my head and drew my face along his neck, growling in warning. Aras went limp and angled his head to bare his throat. The dragon in me liked this and showed his approval by hardening my shaft. I pumped it against Aras and nuzzled my way up the side of his face, into his hair, along the crest of his ear. I bit him there, on that tender skin, hard enough to make him whimper.

“Just you and me,” Aras said. “Swear it.”

I snapped my teeth at him.

He bared his back.

“Just you and me,” I said. “Now, take off your pants.”

A ragged breath left Aras as his hands went to his belt. While he fumbled, I sat up and then stood. Staring down at him possessively, I removed my clothing. All of it. The way he watched me made my sacs pull up tightly. I even undid the tie holding back my hair and let the crimson length fall down my chest. By the time I straddled Aras, he had his pants and boots off and held his shaft at the base, ready for me to mount him.

I sat on his slick cock—so wet with arousal that working it past my outer muscles was done in a second. A sensual pop. Once he was held inside me, Aras let go and transferred his hands to my thighs. He swept those leathery pads up and over my belly, freeing his claws to scrape across my nipples. I writhed, my head falling back, driven there by the pleasure rushing through me.

“Ly,” Aras whispered. He nicked me and blood dripped down my chest.

I bent over to offer it to him. “Lick it up, Aras.”

Aras groaned as he lapped at the blood, the wound already sealing before his saliva could do its trick. Pushing upright, I began to ride him. Slowly. I claimed his cock, taking all of it into me. Filling my channel with my mate. I even pushed down, flattening my ass. Aras tightened his hands on my waist and pulled down, aiding me.

Then I reached behind myself and grabbed his sacs. Aras's eyes went wide when I squeezed.

“I don't have time for more than this right now,” I said as I let him go. “But tonight, after the evening meal, you will pay for your lack of faith in me and for trying to attack an innocent man.”

Aras shuddered, then locked up, jerking against me, and came. I smiled wickedly as I clenched around him, taking every drop. When he sighed through the end of it and sprawled beneath me, I drew off his shaft and crawled up his body.

Aras's eyes shot open when I positioned myself before his lips. Then he grinned.

I pushed past that smile, slipping my cock into his hot mouth. Leaning onto the floor above his head, I began to pump. I wanted to close my eyes to enjoy the sensations, but Aras was making such sexy sounds. I couldn't look away from the top of his head and his twitching ears. Those happy rumbles vibrated through me and I couldn't hold out against them. A few seconds later, I cried out and came.

My mate drank it all, his hands gripping my hips so that I wouldn't pull away. I gave it to him gladly, but when he kept sucking at me past my climax, I jerked away and rolled onto my back.

Panting, staring up at the coffered ceiling, I wondered what the fuck I was doing. This wasn't the way to treat my mate. Aras should be adored. I should have been ordering a new wardrobe for him and planning his presentation ceremony, not biting his ears and chiding him for not having faith in me. Ugh. His presentation ceremony would probably never happen. It couldn't. My dread would use it as an opportunity to get rid of me. If a Dragon King's mate wasn't accepted by every member of his dread, the king had to either step down or deny his mate. Then they wouldn't need to fight me to get me off the throne. But I was the King, and I could change the rules.

Fuck, I was already going to war against my own dread. Changing the law about king mates was nothing compared to that.

“Ly?” Aras turned to look at me.

I swiveled my head to meet his stare.

“Tell me again.”

Aras didn't have to clarify. I knew what he needed to hear. And as much as jealousy was a tool that I would use to keep him, I also knew that it needed to be wielded delicately. I had to make him jealous without letting him believe that I'd actually betray him.

“I didn't fuck him,” I said.

“And you won't?”

I smirked and sat up.

“Lyrandir!” Aras sat up too.

Chuckling, I pulled him into a kiss. Easing back just a little, I said, “I won't fuck him. Not so long as you stay away from that pussy-ex of yours.”

Aras blinked. Then he narrowed his eyes. “Is that what this is about?”

I stood up and got dressed.

“Ly?”

“Nothing happened between me and the Eljaffna, so how can it be about anything?”

Aras made a grumbling sound and got up to get dressed as well. “You are so childish.”

“Am not.”

He snorted a laugh. Then he paused. “What secret did that man tell you?”

“I promised not to share it.”

“Right,” Aras muttered.

I took his hand. “I promised him, Aras. And this secret could hurt his people if it got out. He's trusting me because I trusted them with ways to hurt my people. Do you understand?”

He paused, then nodded. “All right. Just don't go off alone with beautiful men anymore.”

“I'm the King. I'm needed in private meetings.”

Aras rolled his eyes. “Don't think that I don't know how you made sure that I knew you were going into one of those meetings with a handsome Eljaffna.”

“First, beautiful, and now, handsome,” I mused. “It sounds as if I should be jealous, not you.”

“You know he's not my type.”

“What? Handsome or beautiful?”

Aras shook his head. “Lyrandir, stop.”

Going serious, I said, “This is not the most fortunate time for us to come together. I am under a lot of stress and it's made me . . .”

“Short-tempered?” he offered. “Irrational? Brutish? An asshole?”

I chuckled. “Yes, perhaps all those things. If you could hold on a little longer, I know we can be great together.”

Aras lifted on his heels to press our foreheads together. “I believe that too.”

“So, you'll hold on?”

“Until you hack off my hands and cast me away.”

I pulled back to grimace at him. “Dear Gods, Aras! What terrible imagery. We were having a romantic moment.”

Aras burst out laughing. When he settled into a smile, he said, “All of our moments are unique and special to me. Even the terrible ones.”

His words hardened my resolve to do whatever I had to do to get the Eye. I wanted to protect my people and my throne, yes, but my main motivation had become Aras. I needed my mate to be truly mine. I needed to claim him before the world. And I especially needed him to know who he belonged to.