Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lake

Time seems to want to take its ever-loving time. I ended up excusing myself to go to Tucker's room. I couldn't just sit there and pretend pleasantries with Karsyn and Harmony. No matter how nice I thought they were.

I was just having a hard time sitting still and talking when I wanted to know what was going on. Several times, I've found myself going to the door and stopping from going any farther.

Tucker asked me to give him time with his brothers and everyone else who was there to help plan their next course of action. I could hear his thoughts, which I still found weirder than I ever thought possible, so I knew what he was sharing with me through the connection between us.

I want to be able to help, but I've got a feeling they won't let me. Tucker won't want me to. He's made that clear. He didn't have to say or even think it. It was in the way his body tensed.

Let's not forget how he was while in the Drakon realm. He'd been pissed with me, more than a little. Furious. He didn't like what I'd done, but he also didn't want me there because of the danger of the situation.

Tucker has to know he can't bubble-wrap me. I can't be sealed away and kept out of it. It's because of me all of this is happening. I won't let him.

Twirling around the room, my eyes land on the night-light. Tucker thought something about it just a bit ago, how the wood could hurt the Drakon King. But I don't want them to break my night-light for them to be able to do it.

I wish there was another way to take care of all of this without anyone getting hurt.

They all want to draw the dragons here to Redwich. I don't think that's what they should do. There are too many innocent people who could get caught in the crossfire.

"There are no innocents when it comes to war."

I whirl around to come face to face with a man I've never seen before in my life. "Who are you?" I ask, but I've a feeling I know. He's too beautiful looking. Hair is dark as night itself. The clothes he's wearing seem to mold straight to his body. The top partially open, displaying his upper torso and chest. There's a shimmer of some sort surrounding him, making him seem to glow. But it's the eyes that send a shiver down my spine. I would know those eyes. I see them when I look in the mirror.

"I would think it obvious as to who I am, Lake. You do share my eyes and blood," he says, almost like he was actually singing the words. Tucker once said I do the same thing. I wonder if it's a Fae thing.

"What are you doing here?" I demand, shoving all other thoughts from my mind. I don't need to be worrying about anything else other than the very issue at hand.

"Is that a way to speak to your father?" Nyx asks, clucking his tongue, one eye cocking mockingly.

"You aren't my father," I snap. "Before you go all Darth Vadar on me with the whole ‘ Luke, I am your father ' bit, you can save it. We might share blood, but you aren't a damn thing to me. Just the man who stole my mother away, impregnated her, and kept her prisoner."

Nyx grins deviously and crosses his arms over his chest. "I did do that, and if I remember correctly, she was delightful. Served her purpose as I expected." He somewhat reminds me of what the devil himself would look like with his devilish appearance.

"You're sick." My stomach churns, and the need to vomit grows with each and every word this man, no, that's not the word, this sadistic fairy allows to pass his lips. "Why did you come here in the first place?"

"Curiosity?" Nyx states in question rather than answering me. Moving gracefully, so light on his feet, I find it nerve racking. He walks around me. "I found myself wondering what has Zurri in such a fit to get his hands on you. Though I did know he would be when I got your mother pregnant. I'd hoped to use you myself."

"I'll kill you before I let that happen," I mutter and move toward the door, ready to get away from him as quickly as I can. I want Tucker here with me to shield me from this devil.

"I allowed your mother to take those branches with her," Nyx finally states, halting my steps. Slowly, I turn toward him without speaking a word. I don't think I could if I even tried. I simply stare at the Fae, with who I share nothing but the color of my eyes with. He looks at me with such a chilling expression. "I allowed your mother to escape from Faery and find her mate. Allowed her to take what could kill something as you and me with her. I didn't know that she wouldn't be with you while you grew up."

"Why are you telling me this?" I finally manage to croak out.

"I find myself not liking the pain coursing through you right now. The fear and need you feel for your mate." He shrugs. "I might be a sadistic fairy, as you believe, but I do have morals. Granted, they're mine, and I can change them at will, but for some reason, I do not wish to see you harmed. You're the blood of mine." Nyx cocks his head slightly. "Not just that, but you hold the power of my mother."

"Your mother?" I blurt, totally shocked by this.

"Yes, my mother. Your paternal grandmother. She passed over a thousand years ago at the hands of my brother, who wanted the powers you now have. She refused to gift them to him. It's why you are known as the dragon bride in the prophecy."

"I don't understand," I murmur, my brows furrowing as the door behind me is thrown open. I feel him without looking, but I don't let his presence distract me from what Nyx just shared. "Why does it make me the dragon bride?"

"Because, my daughter, you hold the power to command the dragons in a way he cannot. He wanted you at his side because he'd use you to keep his kingdom the way he wishes. All you must do is embrace that side of you. With the help of your mate, you'll be able to. You simply use the voice within you. The very same one you used to command the strands of time, and they shall listen." Nyx looks behind me to Tucker. "You will treat her like the gift she is, or I'll come upon you in a way you will not wish. You now have the answer to defeat Zurri."

In the blink of an eye, Nyx vanishes just quickly as he appeared.

Slowly, I turn in Tucker's arms. "Well, that was interesting."

Tucker looks near on murderous, and his thoughts and emotions match just the expression perfectly. "The fuck just happened here."

"I think Nyx just gave us a way to stop any bloodshed before it ever happens. We could go back to the dragon realm and put an end to all of this before Zurri can get here," I remark, suddenly feeling elated by the truth.

"A little late for that." Tucker growls, curling an arm tight around me. "They'll be here at any time. But if we can end this without my brothers being killed by the fire-breathing fuckers, then we'll handle this the way it needs to be done. He turns his head to the nightstand where my light sits. "Gonna have to take your light apart, little Fae. Don't wanna fuck it up, but knowing what it's made of, I ain't about to keep it. I'll fix it myself after this is done. Refashion it with a different wood. I don't want you not to have it . . ."

"I don't need it anymore." The words come rushing from my lips without my stopping them.

What surprises me is how true it really is. As long as I have Tucker, then I'm okay. He's my tiger prince from the light. Being able to hold him, to have the real thing, I don't need the light.

"You're always gonna have me, Lake. You and any cubs we have. I'm not goin' anywhere. Glad you don't think you need the night-light anymore. Regardless, I'll still be fixing it later on. Maybe you can put it in our baby's room."

"What?" I blurt.

Tucker grins. "Definitely not the right time for this shit," he states, pulling me tight to his front, one arm around my waist, the other going up to tangle his fingers in my hair. "But I don't give a fuck. Just means one more thing to fight for. To strike where it won't just hurt him but kill the fucker. You're pregnant, Lake."

I want to be thrilled, but a shiver of dread courses through my veins. What happens if I end up like my mom? How do I know how to raise a child?

"We'll figure it all out together later on, little Fae. For now, put it out of your mind and worry about being able to use the voice Nyx told you to use," Tucker orders, his tone gentle but firm.

He's right. For right now, I need to worry about other things rather than being pregnant. The first order of business is to make sure the bloodshed is left out of the equation. If Zurri can't use the other dragons, he'll have no choice but to face off with Tucker.

At least, that's what I'm hoping for.