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Authors: Ophelia Bell
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both know bloodlines have nothing to do with rank. Every dragon has the opportunity to rise to that level.”
“Ah, that’s the law, yes. But how often do the royal bloodlines shift?”
That made Rafe pause. Aside from the Guardian who was granted a token place on the Court at the time of Ascension, Court families had always been the same bloodlines for as long as he was aware of. There were occasionally other dragons who vied for the positions, and there was always a grand ceremony prior to each hibernation to choose the next Court based on the riches acquired by the families at that point. But the contenders never quite succeeded. Was it truly fate, or was there some kind of conspiracy at work? He could believe either at this point.
“It does pay to be a silent observer for a few centuries,” Darius said before Rafe could answer. The other dragon’s face grew soft, his expression distant and sentimental. “Kris’s mother occasionally spoke of her own dreams to me, just before Kris was born. They were of a similar vein. There are only a few of us who are close enough to the Council to see their gradual surrender. This has been brewing for a lot longer than your generation knows.”
“Longer than you’ve been here?”
“Yes. I think your lovely little linguist might have stumbled across the details, but doesn’t know what she found.”
“And you think the Council may be ready to surrender?”
“Not surrender, but compromise. I would give them a token of loyalty once your demands have been accepted.”
“That isn’t my decision to make, but I can find Rowan. How long since she flew from here?”
“She’s about two days East,” Darius said. “She loves you. I don’t think you deserve it, but she does. She’s trying very hard not to, but I think that trying might destroy her if you don’t find her soon.”
“You think she’d be better off without me, don’t you?” Rafe asked. He believed it himself as he uttered the words. He never should have approached her in that bar. He never should have shown her what she was. He never should have fallen in love with her.
“Maybe. I suppose it depends on what you do next.”
***
“Where to next, my friend?” Roka asked a couple hours later.
“A few islands to the East… there’s a resort village Darius sent her to.”
“Are you ready to find her?”
There were so many messages in those words, Rafe hesitated to respond knowing that he might respond to the wrong one. He let the question sit while he shifted, then stretched his wings wide, testing the air.
“I will find her and we will prevail together.”
“Well, then let’s fly, brother!”
Roka trumpeted into the dusk and took flight. Rafe followed, launching himself into the air and leaving a clattering of pebbles behind.
***
“She’s spread all over this place,” Roka said after they landed. “Sweet Mother, what was she doing here?”
“Replenishing,” Rafe said, letting out a breath to clothe him in casual khaki and cotton shirt before walking down the path toward the house that sat silent in the dawn beside the beach. The remnants of a very long party were littered all over the landscape. Half empty cups and bottles caught the rising sun. A couple wayward bodies rested like corpses tangled together. They weren’t dead, but they’d fallen asleep or passed out in the middle of fucking each other.
Roka laughed. “Reminds me of Geva’s stunts. Remember those?”
Rafe clenched his teeth. He remembered the rogue Red’s antics and didn’t have any love for the dragon, but looking around now, he knew what had happened had to be an act of desperation. She’d needed energy, and these humans were the best source. The fact that she might not understand her true strength was Rafe’s fault.
“Do you think we need to do damage control?” Roka asked. It was a valid concern. Kol might have come in and wiped everyone’s memories, but he’d need a Blue to get that job done.
The
“Ah, that’s the law, yes. But how often do the royal bloodlines shift?”
That made Rafe pause. Aside from the Guardian who was granted a token place on the Court at the time of Ascension, Court families had always been the same bloodlines for as long as he was aware of. There were occasionally other dragons who vied for the positions, and there was always a grand ceremony prior to each hibernation to choose the next Court based on the riches acquired by the families at that point. But the contenders never quite succeeded. Was it truly fate, or was there some kind of conspiracy at work? He could believe either at this point.
“It does pay to be a silent observer for a few centuries,” Darius said before Rafe could answer. The other dragon’s face grew soft, his expression distant and sentimental. “Kris’s mother occasionally spoke of her own dreams to me, just before Kris was born. They were of a similar vein. There are only a few of us who are close enough to the Council to see their gradual surrender. This has been brewing for a lot longer than your generation knows.”
“Longer than you’ve been here?”
“Yes. I think your lovely little linguist might have stumbled across the details, but doesn’t know what she found.”
“And you think the Council may be ready to surrender?”
“Not surrender, but compromise. I would give them a token of loyalty once your demands have been accepted.”
“That isn’t my decision to make, but I can find Rowan. How long since she flew from here?”
“She’s about two days East,” Darius said. “She loves you. I don’t think you deserve it, but she does. She’s trying very hard not to, but I think that trying might destroy her if you don’t find her soon.”
“You think she’d be better off without me, don’t you?” Rafe asked. He believed it himself as he uttered the words. He never should have approached her in that bar. He never should have shown her what she was. He never should have fallen in love with her.
“Maybe. I suppose it depends on what you do next.”
***
“Where to next, my friend?” Roka asked a couple hours later.
“A few islands to the East… there’s a resort village Darius sent her to.”
“Are you ready to find her?”
There were so many messages in those words, Rafe hesitated to respond knowing that he might respond to the wrong one. He let the question sit while he shifted, then stretched his wings wide, testing the air.
“I will find her and we will prevail together.”
“Well, then let’s fly, brother!”
Roka trumpeted into the dusk and took flight. Rafe followed, launching himself into the air and leaving a clattering of pebbles behind.
***
“She’s spread all over this place,” Roka said after they landed. “Sweet Mother, what was she doing here?”
“Replenishing,” Rafe said, letting out a breath to clothe him in casual khaki and cotton shirt before walking down the path toward the house that sat silent in the dawn beside the beach. The remnants of a very long party were littered all over the landscape. Half empty cups and bottles caught the rising sun. A couple wayward bodies rested like corpses tangled together. They weren’t dead, but they’d fallen asleep or passed out in the middle of fucking each other.
Roka laughed. “Reminds me of Geva’s stunts. Remember those?”
Rafe clenched his teeth. He remembered the rogue Red’s antics and didn’t have any love for the dragon, but looking around now, he knew what had happened had to be an act of desperation. She’d needed energy, and these humans were the best source. The fact that she might not understand her true strength was Rafe’s fault.
“Do you think we need to do damage control?” Roka asked. It was a valid concern. Kol might have come in and wiped everyone’s memories, but he’d need a Blue to get that job done.
The
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