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  Just as she was about to sink down once again, she was caught up in a man's arms. Quin was no longer a dragon. He grabbed her and kicked hard to the surface. Once there, he shifted into his dragon with her tucked into his claw.

  By the time they got to the beach, Gemma was sure she had swallowed half the ocean. She coughed and sputtered, trying to get control of her breathing.

  Quin grabbed her hand and gave her a shake. "What were you doing? Was the thought of being my mate so horrible that you decided to drown yourself?"

  Gemma felt her temper rise. "What in the fuck are you talking about? You didn't come up! I was terrified that you were dead. I was saving you, asshole!"

  Quin scoffed, "Saving me? From what?"

  "Drowning? You know what? This is stupid; I am leaving."

  Quin grabbed her. "You went out there to save me?"

  His tone was so incredulous that Gemma found it insulting.

  "I am done with this conversation."

  "That is too damn bad, because I am not." Quin's face was right in hers. "Tell me, what were you doing out there?"

  Gemma wanted to spit him in the eye, "You didn't come up. I thought you were drowning. Happy?"

  She was shocked to find that a wide smile had found its way onto his face.

  Chapter 15

  "You like me," Quin said, teasing for about the twentieth time.

  Gemma rolled her eyes. "You have the mentality of a twelve-year-old."

  His smile widened. "And yet you like me."

  "Not wanting you dead and falling in love with you are two very different things."

  Quin ignored the comment and continued to walk up the beach. They were nearing the border of the Lycan pack house, when two men stepped out onto the beach.

  "A little far from home, aren't you?"

  A large black wolf followed, the hair on his nape beginning to rise.

  Gemma took an instinctive step into Quin and grabbed his hand.

  "I am Quin, the Dragon King of the West Sea," he said firmly, and it seemed that even the ocean paused for a moment to listen. "I am here to speak with your queen, the fairy, Flora, sent us."

  The man's eyes widened. "That isn't possible."

  The large black wolf transitioned right in front of their eyes. He was tall, with sandy blond hair that was bleached by the sun and dark brown eyes that looked just like they had when he was a wolf. The man was naked, and Gemma could appreciate how nicely built he was.

  Quin growled and shoved her behind him.

  The man smiled, his whiskered square chin the perfect foil for the straight white teeth. Even his dick was tan. Quin hated him on the spot.

  "Adam." He stuck out his hand. "This is Jeb and Owen. We are from the Finnegan branch of the pack. But we know Flora's kin. She promised to send help, but that's been so long ago, most folks had given up. Are you really a dragon shifter?"

  Jeb scoffed, "Horse shit, there is no such thing."

  Quin looked at Adam. "Why would I lie?"

  Owen smirked and elbowed Jeb. "To get the chicks; that one there is mighty fine."

  Both wolves had their asses handed to them and ended up on the sand howling in pain.

  Adam held his hands up. "Hey, they are the idiots around here, not me."

  "We need to speak with your queen," Gemma reiterated.

  "And you need to find some damn clothes." Quin frowned.

  Adam laughed. "It's not far; follow me."

  In a flash, he had transitioned back to wolf form and they walked behind him into the tall trees at the edge of the beach. There were other wolves in the shadows. Quin could smell them and Gemma could feel the eyes that were bearing down on them.

  When the path widened and a large house came into view, there were several men and women standing outside.

  "Is it true?" an older woman whispered loud enough to be heard in three counties.

  Jeb and Owen stumbled in after Quin and Gemma. Their bruises were already healing, but they gave her wide berth anyway.

  "I am Quin, Dragon King of the West Sea," Quin said again.

  The older woman got to her feet. She had been resting in a rocker and looked to be in her eighties, maybe older.

  "I am Grace, the daughter of Emily. Why are you here, dragon?"

  Quin moved closer, and the people began to snarl around them. Gemma stayed put and waited to see what Quin might do.

  He moved in front of the old woman and then squatted down to be closer to her height.

  "Please sit, Queen Grace."

  The older woman blushed and patted her white hair absentmindedly. True enough, she settled her old bones back onto the rocker.

  "We have been waiting for you."

  Quin frowned. "I am sorry?"

  "My mother had a dream that, one day, the dragons would come, and we would open up Lycan Academy once more."

  Gemma frowned and moved forward, taking Quin's hand in her own.

  "He is my mate; you will not be using him as some kind of dragon stud."

  Quin's eyes flashed to hers, searching and finally seeing whatever it was he was looking for.

  The older woman smiled, her wrinkles sagging around her bright eyes. "We will not bother your mate, Valkyrie."

  Gemma gasped, "How did you know that?"

  "It is foretold, and now you are here. The dragon kings will help set up passageway between our worlds. Our children will finally defeat the USLUF, and we will return home."

  Adam had wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. He moved over to the aging woman and said respectfully, "Grandmother, we are home."

  She shook her head. "No, our people were banished when the Dragon Kingdess was taken from her people. Free the goddess, and we will be able to return to our realm. The Lycans are dying; we are near extinction. The dragons must save us."

  Quin felt like he had been punched in the gut. "What Dragon Kingdess?"

  The older woman reached out a gnarled hand, and Quin took it in his own. Suddenly, the vision was upon him. It was his mother, all of those centuries ago. The land was unfamiliar to Quin, but her face was picture perfect and so dear that he felt like his heart was being ripped into shreds.

  "How?" he gasped, releasing the Queen of Lycan's hand.

  She looked off, almost as if trying to remember. "A dream; you are not the only one with a seeing gift. Mine come in the form of dreams. If the dragons and wolves don't unite, we will be lost."

  Gemma shook her head. "You can't just force people to have kids together; that is fucked up."

  Queen Grace smiled at her. "So young for so many opinions."

  Gemma looked askance at Quin. She was centuries older than this queen was; it didn't make sense.

  "Where are they keeping my mother?" Quin demanded harshly.

  Grace shook her head, and then it was as if the light faded out of her. She slumped into her chair and looked about blankly. When her eyes met Quin's, she frowned. "I don't know this wolf."

  Adam sighed, "Let's get inside; there is much to discuss."

  Chapter 16

  "There is nothing to be done," Cane argued with his brother, Andar. "The dragon's promise has been given, and we have to follow through."

  "Quin left in the night when Titus told him that we were not in agreement."

  Andar's dragon paced back and forth inside of him, itching to come out. "He went against his brother, and we do not make pacts unless majority rules."

  Cane ground his teeth and said, "There is a chance we could get Mother back. How can you even think of not trying?"

  Andar spat on the ground. "And now, we are to believe the word of a fairy? Especially one who is out of her realm and snuck into ours without permission."

  Flora stood proudly before the two dragon kings. She wasn't ashamed of who she was or the lengths she had gone to help save her people. Life was often difficult. Losing Jason had been one of the hardest things she had ever lived through. And yet here she still stood. The fey were known for their emotional detachment, but l
iving in the Human Realm had softened her. Flora clicked her tongue impatiently. "What is it going to take?" she demanded.

  The two dragon kings looked at her in surprise. It wasn't often that one would have the nerve to interrupt them when they were speaking.

  "I have spoken the truth; I am a Truth Teller and, therefore, cannot lie to you. I have met with your brother, Quin, and his mate, Gemma. After they left us, they found Titus and Ava. I know this because, even now, Titus and Ava are moving to join Quin."

  Cane's eyes narrowed. "And what of Freya and Odin?"

  There was a gasp from the cave entrance, and Cane turned to see his mate, Zoe. Her eyes were wide, her hand trembling.

  "I didn't mean to interrupt." She lowered her eyes submissively, and Cane motioned for her to come forward.

  Before she could even get to the throne, he had risen and gone to her. Andar looked at Flora with resignation. It would appear, he wasn't as enamored of all of the love connections his brothers had been making.

  Cane returned with Zoe at his side. "Tell us of Odin and Freya," Cane demanded.

  "I don't know their whereabouts," Flora answered honestly as her hair flashed a bright pink.

  "There are too many players in this game and not enough odds that we shall have a successful ending."

  Flora turned to Andar. "That is a very pragmatic approach. However, some things are best handled from the heart."

  Cane's brows rose, and his lips twitched. Andar, The Red Dragon (蒼龍 Chìlóng) and the literal essence of summer, wasn't one who cared much about tender feelings. Much like the color of his dragon, he preferred things to be red hot and non-negotiable.

  Andar's eyes narrowed perceptively. "If you wish to goad me into helping you, I will stop you now. I have no need to please you and couldn't care less if you think I am unfeeling. I do what is best for my people and for my family."

  "And finding your mother isn't best for your family?"

  Flora held his gaze, even when his eyes blazed red.

  He stood from his throne. "You go too far, fairy."

  Flora raised her head, her hair flashing a fiery red that was eerily similar to the shade of Andar's dragon.

  "You have chosen not to go far enough. I won't waste my time any longer. I have told you what you need to know. Good day."

  She turned on her heel and moved to walk away.

  "Stop!" Andar boomed. "You have not been excused."

  Flora turned to face him, her eyes the iciest blue against her hair that was still violent red.

  "You are not my king, and I do not need your permission."

  Zoe's eyes popped, and she scooted closer to Cane. She knew that the dragon kings had sharp tempers and wasn't sure what would happen.

  True to form, Andar stood to his full height. He opened his mouth and blasted flame out at the fairy. The few times that Zoe had seen this before, the person was charred beyond recognition. And yet Flora stood there without a spec of ash on her.

  "Finished with your temper tantrum?" She raised a brow in question. "Because the adults have real work to do."

  Cane snorted but turned it into a cough when his brother glared at him.

  Flora turned once again and moved to leave. Andar felt a fury unlike any he had before. He marched down the dais and went to grab her arm.

  When he touched Flora, a desire so intense, so real, snaked into his body that he gasped. "What trickery are you trying to do?"

  Flora blinked, her arm still tingling from the spot he had touched her. In all the years since Jason had passed, she had been living as if in a dream. This dragon's touch seemed to break her of that spell. She shook her head and rubbed the spot where he had placed his hand. "I have done nothing to you."

  Andar started to argue, but Cane added, "She is a Truth Teller, remember?"

  Andar didn't understand. He had women lined up for him, dragon and human alike. The intense attraction wasn't wanted or familiar. What also had him, was the fact that her hair hadn't changed back from the fiery red. When the fairy first came inside the throne room, her hair changed color every few minutes, much like the expressions on her face. But ever since they had started to argue, it had remained the same flaming red.

  "Swear, on fey and everything that you hold holy, that you are not leading the dragons into a trap."

  Flora's jaw tightened, but she did as she was requested. "I swear to you, on fey, my family, and everything I hold sacred, I am not here to deceive the dragons."

  Andar nodded once. "We ride at midnight."

  Flora blinked. "I cannot go with you. I was banned from the Earth Realm."

  "By what magic?" Zoe asked softly.

  "I don't really know; it was something to do with the evil Lycans. The group is called the USLUF."

  Andar frowned. "That won't be a problem."

  Flora scoffed, "Do you honestly think I would have come here if I was able to go and fight, myself? There is no possible way in."

  Andar shrugged. "Then it looks like we will be doing the impossible."

  Chapter 17

  The Past

  "You can't expect me to leave my boys?" Jord's eyes flew across the divide into the canyon where four youthful dragons flew around scorching the tail of the one in front of them. They still had the bodies of children and weren't anywhere near fit for ruling the dragon kingdom.

  Titania leaned forward. "I will watch over them. I swear it. I am desperate, Jord! They are coming; they are going to kill everyone, all of my people, my children, everyone."

  Jord rubbed her temples and looked back over to her boys.

  "Who is the girl's mother?"

  Titania's jaw tightened. "I don't know, I swear. Oberon can't keep his fucking dick in his pants. Usually, he manages not to produce a child, but as you can see with this one, she is half dragon, half fey."

  "And the Vernomi want her because children of dragon and fey are ten times more powerful."

  Titania nodded again.

  "The Vernomi are succubi who will destroy everything in their wake. How did they find out about her? It was you, wasn't it? You were jealous and wanted to punish him? You wanted to hurt Oberon and get rid of the girl, but it backfired, and now they are coming for everything. Titania, what have you done?"

  Titania looked stricken, the truth of her deception finally out into the open.

  "Jord, if the dragons don't help us, the fey will be wiped from existence. You have to help us. You can't allow my people to die. You are the Dragon Kingdess! You, of all beings, know how important it is for the Vernomi not to overtake the fey.

  Jord looked at her sons once again.

  "It may be too late, Titania. You should have come to me before. At this point, all we can hope for is to get your people to safety. They have invaded your borders. I don't know if there is even a chance."

  As if knowing they were being watched Cane, Titus, Quin, and Andar turned and flapped their wings wildly at their mother. She smiled despite the serious conversation she was having. Her boys were wild and certainly far from men, but they were strong and would one day be good dragon kings.

  "What would you do if your sons were at risk?" Titania begged. "Please don't leave us to die."

  Jord nodded. "So be it. The dragons will fight with the fey."

  * * *

  The Present

  Jord shook herself awake, ignoring the way her bones rubbed together. She was thinner than anyone ought to be, and she hated that she couldn't feel her dragon. The Vernomi had kept her imprisoned in a cell that impeded her transition for so long, her dragon had gone dormant.

  Once, Jord was the most famed Dragon Kingdess of existence, the daughter of night and earth, and now she was reduced to almost nothingness. She hadn't spoken to anyone in so long that she feared she had lost the ability how.

  Her existence was rather monotonous. If, by chance, they remembered to feed her, it was like a holiday. If not, being a god, she wouldn't die. But it didn't mean she wouldn't feel the pain of hunger. The lone
liness was the worst of it.

  Jord had long since stopped counting the days, weeks, months, and years since her capture. In truth, she wondered if she ever should have entered into the alliance with Titania. The fey were saved, but she was the casualty. And because of that, she had spent what felt like several lifetimes locked away from everything and everyone.

  She had even stopped dreaming. That is, until recently. The last few days, Jord had started to dream about her boys again. It was hard and beautiful at the same time. She missed them terribly and wondered for the millionth time if, indeed, she truly had made the right choice.

  Would they understand? Did they look for her? Had they survived? Had they married?

  It was best that she didn't allow herself to think along these lines, or she would only cause herself more internal worry. She couldn't change what was done. And in her heart, she knew that even if all could be done again, she would save the nation of fey. That is what a good leader would do.

  But she wanted to kill Titania.

  A loud rapping at the door caused her to move back. The Vernomi weren't known for their table manners and often threw things inside the cell.

  Another loud rapping followed, and Jord frowned. It wasn't usual for them to be that clumsy. The cell wasn't overly large, and there wasn't anything for her to use as a weapon. She crouched down and made herself as small as possible, which wasn't very since she was rather a giantess of a woman.

  An ominous crack sounded, followed by the door crashing in and landing on the floor. A huge man stood in the doorway. He was dressed in leather breeches and had tattoos on his chest. His face was covered in a beard, but his eyes looked familiar. Behind him, was a woman with violent red hair and flashing blue eyes. He stared at her as if he was seeing a ghost.

  Jord stayed in her crouched position, not trusting her sight or her voice. Maybe she had truly lost it, and her mind was playing tricks on her, or perhaps this was a dream and she was asleep on the cot that was shoved against the wall.