Dragon 3 Chapter 29 (Patreon)

The Highaen parted for me with awe in their eyes.

“You lied.” Yev said, following me. “You lied to my mother and I. Why?”

“The Highaen forces are compromised.” I said simply. “The angels were ready and waiting for you when you fled the magic range. Even if they had guessed that we had some sort of extraction plan, they wouldn’t have known enough to focus all the key resources of their attack. You have a mole.”

Yev’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t refute me.

“There was a lot riding on this.” I reminded her, spotting Kelly.

She was still shifted, standing over Jadelyn, Scarlett, and Morgana. Morgana was sitting on the ground, clutching her arm closely. Her left arm was wrapped in woody vines that popped out of her skin, like something was living in it.

She had told me it would take her out of the fight, but I had no idea it would look like that.

Yev gasped behind me. “Your tree! But I thought you destroyed it.”

Morgana pointed at Scarlett. “Kitsune. What Zach destroyed was an illusion.”

Scarlett did a small salute. “At your service.” She turned to Yev. “Your father has Tyrande.”

“You got her?” Yev gasped. “How?”

I pointed to Morgana and Kelly. “They ran into the celestial plane and got her out. You two cut it a little close.” I turned to them, concerned at what had happened on the other side of the portal.

“Hey, we did pretty good, considering.” Kelly put her hands on her hips. The sight of a massive werewolf making such a feminine motion made the edges of my lips curl up in a half smile.

“It was the furball’s fault; she should not do stealth a mission again.” Morgana stated weakly, still clutching at her arm.

“My fault? It was blueberry who was busy slurping down angel blood like it was a buffet.”

Morgana shrugged. “I needed to be on the top of my game to carry my tree.”

Yev nodded, agreeing with Morgana. “Carrying a tree is a heavy burden.”

“There you are.” The matriarch of the Highaen family’s sharp voice cut through the crowd.

She paused, seeing our group. But as her eyes scanned us, they zeroed in on Morgana and her arm.

Kelly’s hair stood on end, and Morgana looked ready to fight.

“Calm down.” Yev’s mother glanced at me for a moment before looking back at Morgana. “I think you’ll be safe from any aggression from elves for a long time. After all, you are now the only elven connection to the new king of the dragons.”

She actually did a slight bow to me. “May I take my daughter away?”

“Please, don’t stand on ceremony.” I felt uncomfortable with her change in demeanor.

It seemed that my help to save her daughter’s life had put me in the better graces of the Highaen matriarch. That, and she was no longer on edge, fearing for her daughter.

“Actually, I’d like to see Tyrande. I assume that’s where you are going?”

“Yes, please come.” Yev’s mother dipped her head to me and pulled Yev with her.

I scooped up Morgana, who grumbled at me.

“I’m not going to let you walk with that arm.” I replied.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Morgana was looking pale from the effort it had taken for her to move her tree.

The rest fell in behind me as we walked deeper into the Highaen forces.

The army hadn’t taken any prisoners, and were taking care of their own wounded and collecting the dead.

It would be days before the mess of the battle was all cleaned up. I was glad Morgana had gotten her tree. All of these elves moving around near her tree would have put her on edge.

I couldn’t wait to see how the paranormals would cover up the mess of a battle site. But I’d let the Highaen family figure that out. I didn’t need the headache.

We walked a bit further through the group, coming up to Tryande, who was sitting up in the bed of a truck while an older man wearing leather armor talked to her.

The man said something that made her laugh before she doubled over in pain. He was quick to dodge forward, helping her sit again, his face torn in angst at her pain.

“Mom, Yev.” Tyrande seemed in good enough spirits. Her eyes then shifted behind them to the rest of us. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Kelly bowed her lupine head.

It was only fair for Kelly to take some of the credit, given that she had carried Tyrande out.

“What happened to the archangel?” Tyrande asked.

“Dead. I ate him.” I grinned. Bugger had been tasty too. If he hadn’t been so difficult to kill, I could go for round two with another one.

Tyrande looked me over. “You were big out there, bigger than I remember.”

“You missed a few things.” I replied. It was a poor explanation, but I wasn’t about to get into the details in front of all the soldiers around us. “Glad you are okay.”

“A little banged up, but I’ll be alright.” Tryande gave me a big thumbs up. Her eyes shifted to Morgana’s arm. “I see you have your tree. With your new mate, I’m guessing it is going to go somewhere very secure.”

Morgana grinned from my arms. “I’ve been told I can pick anywhere in the world.”

“Damn right. I’ll build a fortress around it.” Jadelyn agreed.

“I don’t want to know.” Tyrande held up her hands. “I’m just glad to be back on this plane, and I’m going to be thrilled to be back home in boring Sentarshaden.”

The man that had been in front of her stepped up to me and clasped my shoulder. “Thank you for bringing back my daughter and protecting my clan during the battle. But I would ask for a moment of your time… alone?”

I looked at Morgana in my hands, then over to Kelly, who seemed most able to hold her.

“Don’t give me that look. I won’t bruise your precious blueberry.” Kelly held out her arms.

I rested Morgana in her arms before following the man who appeared to be Tyrande’s father.

He walked a short distance away, enough to give us some privacy.

“First off, I’m Styvan. I’m those two troublemakers’ father.” He smiled in good humor at the two girls.

“An honor to meet you.” I was respectful; he’d been nothing but good natured since I’d met him.

He apprised me again. “You seem like a good lad. Maybe a decent leader. But I can’t help but worry about my little girl, even if she could crush me under her heel.”

I waited, curious about what was worrying him.

He looked up at me. “Everyone has seen the newsreel of the Bronze King…”

I nodded, realizing he must be concerned about me as the leader of a group of dragons, which may soon include his daughter. But I waited to let him finish.

“Anyway, my daughter will be drawn into the conclave and for the first time, I know no one to look after her.” He scratched the side of his head. “So, what I guess I’m getting at is; will you look after my daughter at this conclave? Given your status, I’d expect you to be able to deal with any troubles she has.”

I nodded, not sure that I needed even more responsibility on my shoulders.

Then it hit my why his phrasing bothered me. “It almost sounds like you are giving her away to me.” I tried to make a joke.

But he didn’t laugh. Styvan’s face was set in an impassive expression for an awkwardly long moment, but then he smirked.“Just look out for her. Yev has her own mind, and I know better than to insert myself into her affairs. I like my head on my shoulders.” He turned it around and made a joke of his own.

I smirked, imagining a furious Yev if she was told who she had to marry. She was headstrong. But I had already been expected the Highaen and other to try to push their girls onto me. Just hadn’t expected it so soon.

“You haven’t answered my question.” He prodded.

Looking up at the sky for answers, none came. But I knew that in the end, if Yev was in danger and needed me, I would help her.

“Sure. I’ll do my best. But I have no idea what we are about to be walking into.”

“You’ll land on your feet. I can see that much.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Now, let’s go rejoin the girls before they cause more trouble.”

I liked him. He seemed very fatherly, nurturing.

“Is everything okay?” Tyrande’s mother asked.

“Perfect, dear.” Styvan nodded happily. “Now, what do you all say we start heading home?”

There were murmurs of agreement from everyone.

“I’ll tell the jet to head back to Lucerne.” Jadelyn pulled out her phone.

Styvan nodded. “I wondered how you got here. We were watching reports of flights to the area for other reasons. You jumped?”

“Off a dragon’s back!” Kelly said excitedly.

“I want to hear every detail.” He encouraged her, listening as we started walking back to the bank of cars. Kelly was more than happy to tell a slightly embellished version of the story.

I smiled as I watched everybody head to the cars, exhausted but safe. I was glad that we had won that battle, but I wondered how much we’d done to shut down the war.

Morgana had described this base as an R&D facility. Something told me this wasn’t their only stronghold.

“Morgana, do I want to know how many bases like this the templar has?” I asked as we got into a car.

“No. There are dozens.” She said with a sigh. “Maybe more. I only really know much about this site. I haven’t spent time learning about the others.”

I realized that we might have cut the head off the hydra, but others would pop up in its place given enough time. They would open up another portal, too.

While we’d won, the Highaen forces had taken a heavy hit, and the city would go into mourning. Hundreds, if not thousands, of elves had lost their life fighting the angels that had entered through the portal.

With the portal closed, it would hopefully take hundreds of years for them to pour through, but I knew I’d likely live long enough to face off against them again one day.

“What’s next?” Jadelyn asked me, seeming to notice me lost in my thoughts.

“We head home. And then we need to get ready for this conclave. Although I’d much rather be heading off on a real honeymoon. I need a vacation.” I settled into the seat. It had been a long day.

A now human Kelly was squirming into clothes behind me. “I’m glad we are going back to the city. We need to pick up my barrel of potion from Hestia.”

“Ah, yes. Would hate it if the furballs couldn’t make more furballs.” Morgana teased, but as she talked about little ones, there was a bit of light in her eyes. Something told me she wouldn’t hate having them around, although she might grumble about it.

“I liked you better when you weren’t so pathetic, blueberry. It’s hard to tease something so weak.” As Kelly said it, she moved over and helped Morgana get situated and comfortable. The two of them confused me, but they seemed to be growing on each other in their own ways.

Jadelyn sighed, looking at her phone. “It looks like we will have a fan club when we arrive. The picketers are still outside.” She held up her phone for me to see.

Sure enough, the crowd seemed to have grown since I’d last seen it, despite us not being at the house.

“Will they leave?” I asked.

“Probably not for weeks.” Scarlett grabbed the phone to see for herself. “Damn. You are popular.”

“Yeah, he is. Look at this.” Kelly held her phone between the seats for the three of us to see.

It was a paranormal news broadcast. The reel behind the presenter had several angles of me flying away from Jadelyn’s home. Then it shifted to a big picture of my face, with my name written across the bottom.

“Oh, fuck.” I cursed and crushed the armrest. “That’s my name.”

“Duh.” Kelly rolled her eyes and withdrew the phone. “It’s out. You are famous.”

I groaned. “Not helpful.”

“Look at it this way. You don’t have to hide anymore.” Jadelyn tried to spin it for me.

All of them were encouraging, but I couldn’t help but feel like everything had turned my life upside down. And now all the marbles were falling out.

“Buck up alpha. Remember what we talked about? You once pushed me to be the world's first female alpha. You can be the world’s golden boy now.”

Scarlett snorted. “You had me for the first half.”

“No, I’m serious.” Kelly grumped. “He’s about to become the leader of the mother fucking dragon race. He’s going to be the world’s golden boy.”

“Let’s not keep saying that. I’d hate for that to catch on and see ‘Golden Boy’ plastered under my name on some news channel.” I did an over-exaggerated shudder.

Kelly just laughed, and I wasn’t sure how seriously she’d taken me. I’d meant it. But she just went back to scrolling on her phone.

***

“Here it is.” Hestia led us inside to a large blue plastic chemical barrel. “I thought about getting one of those lifts, but then I realized that a gold dragon was coming to pick it up. So, it shouldn’t be a problem.” She stared dead at me, ignoring Morgana and Kelly, who were with me.

“So, the semen. Yours, I assume?” She watched me.

“Uh.” I wasn’t prepared for that question. “Yes.”

She let out a soft whistle and protectively covered her pocket. “Gold dragon semen. This stuff might pack more of a kick than I expected.” She smiled, seeming more pleased with the deal she had struck.

Then Hestia turned to Kelly. “Remember, only let them have one drop about ten minutes prior to sex.” From there, Hestia went into other instructions on the proper administration and storage of the potion.

I was more concerned with other things. I walked over and grabbed the drum, lifting it and carrying it out to the black SUV.

“Is that sealed tight, boss?” One of Scarlett’s men asked, watching me place it in the back.

“No idea.” I answered honestly.

The man quickly came back to check it and strap it in. “Can’t be too careful. I was told this stuff was worth more than its weight in gold.”

I nodded. It probably was, and while making the ingredients Hestia needed was pleasant enough, I didn’t love the idea of having to go re-negotiate for more with her now that she knew I was a gold dragon.

Knowing the guards would protect the potion, I went back inside. It looked like the instructions had stopped, and Morgana was passionately speaking to Hestia.

“The Highaen have agreed that as long as your father doesn’t start raising an army, you are completely off any lists except surveillance.” Morgana sounded like she was saying it for the second time.

“No, I’m hidden here.”

“You aren’t hidden.” I corrected her. “The Highaen know exactly where you live and what you do every day.”

Hestia blinked. “No. That’s not possible. I move every three months. I jump from different work fields, picking up odd jobs.”

“Tyrande knew your address off hand.” Morgana clarified.

“Shit.” Hestia bit her nail, looking a bit panicked. She started moving around, like she was going to grab items and run. “Shit. Okay. I can handle this. I’ve prepared for this.”

Morgana placed a slow hand on her friend’s shoulder, helping her breathe.

“You’re okay Hestia.” Morgana replied. “You don’t have to run. You don’t have to hide anymore. You can live your life freely.”

Hestia looked like she was lost somewhere between hyperventilating and crying tears of joy. I could only imagine what all those years staying under the radar and keeping herself isolated had done to her.

“So, what do I do, Morgy?” Hestia asked.

Kelly snorted at the nickname, but I shot her a look, letting her know to leave it. Last thing I needed was them starting another spat.

Morgana ignored Kelly, focusing on her friend. “I want you to come back to Philly. Your father misses you.”

I cursed the mention of her father reminding me of my failed task. I reached inside the spatial artifact and pulled out the forgotten letter. “He really does. He sent this with me.”

She eyed it skeptically. “You only bring this out now?”

Scratching the back of my head, I went with the truth. “There was a lot going on. I forgot about it.”

Morgana snorted. “He is the new king of dragons. Give him a little slack and maybe he’ll owe you a favor.”

I rolled my eyes. We did not know I was king of the dragons. But the fact that Hestia didn’t question it made me realize that everybody had interpreted the Bronze King’s statement the same.

“Either way, there’s the letter. And you can catch a ride back to Philly with us if you want.”

Kelly coughed into her hand and shook her head. “Mile high club.” She grunted.

“When do you leave?” She waved the letter, not yet opening it.

“Tomorrow.” I told her. Jadelyn’s plane had flown back the night before. The pilots were doing a thorough inspection, making sure our emergency exit stunt hadn’t caused any damage before we flew back over the ocean.

We were told it would take most of the day.

“I’ll have an answer by tomorrow morning.” Hestia promised Morgana. “You go have fun with your dragon. If I don’t talk to you before you head off, tell my dad that I love him. And I want him to live his best life.”

I nodded, accepting the cue to leave. I ducked out of her home, seeing the driver close the trunk and get in the front seat before we all piled in.

“Where to?”

“Back home.” I was ready to get back to Jadelyn and Scarlett.

He nodded as he strapped in, putting it in drive and pulling out into traffic.

We wound through the city, reaching Jadelyn’s house and the crowds that awaited us.

It took a small army of her guards to part the crowd enough for our car to get through. And even then, people were slamming up against it with their cameras, trying to capture a photo inside.

After we passed through, the guards were using all their strength to hold back the crowd, pushing them back as the gates tried to close.

Scarlett had said they upgraded the gate with a motor four times the recommended size for just that reason.

People were insane.

“So, how’s fame?” Morgana gave a throaty chuckle, watching the people outside act like zombies hunting for the last survivors.

“I’m just trying to tune all of them out.” I admitted. “Otherwise, it will drive me insane.”

“You could just… you know.” Kelly blew out a big breath. “Smoke them.”

I was unamused. “Yes, Kelly. That definitely would not have any blowback.”

But she just snickered.

Jadelyn met me as I stepped out of the car. “Everything went okay?”

“Yeah, though Morgana tried to convince Hestia to come back with us.”

“I assumed that failed?”

“We got a maybe.” I explained.

Jadelyn nodded, less surprised at Morgana’s invitation than I was.

She turned, leading me into the home. “We have the Highaen sisters over. They wanted to say thank you one last time before we left.”

“They’ve said thank you enough.” The two dozen gifts that were sent over were plenty.

She gave me a look that told me to just go with it.

And I understand her point. Having the heirs to a powerful paranormal city owe you a favor could come in handy down the line.

But we’d also been flooded with invitations from all the other powerful families in the area, wanting to meet us before we headed out.

Jadelyn had weeded through those and said none of them were enough to delay our flight plans. But if we visited again, we’d have to politely accept more than a few of them.

“Zach.” The two sisters turned to me, their purple eyes boring into me. I noticed that they’d gotten a bit more dressed up than usual. I wondered if they had some party or function to attend.

Yev had her hair artfully done up in a bun with bangs framing her face, while Tyrande had her hair braided in a crown.

“Good to see you again.” Tyrande blushed.

“She’s been going on about the hero and his heroic harem.” Yev teased Tyrande, who elbowed her hard in the gut. Not that the dragon seemed to care one bit.

Tyrande shook her head, and I was amazed at how the braid didn’t even budge. “She’s making things up.”

“Girls, my mate is amazing. We don’t have to fight over that.” Jadelyn hung off my shoulder. “I’m married to a gold dragon.” She grinned from ear to ear. “It’s so fun to get to say it!”

“You are a very lucky woman.” Tyrande settled down and agreed. “But we didn’t come here just to poke at Zach. We came to see our friend before she leaves. Who knows when you’ll come back now that you are attached to that thing.” She swirled her finger in the air as she pointed at me.

“Wherever the winds take us.” Jadelyn shrugged. “Apparently, we are going to a dragon conclave soon.”

Scarlett squinted her eyes, but saved that conversation for later. I couldn’t wait for the ‘what to do when a dragon attacks you’ drills.

“Spring.” Yev said. “Spring equinox is what my messenger told me.”

I turned to her, surprised. “You already got your message from the Bronze King?”

“Yep. First thing this morning.” She fished around in her purse and brought out a golden card. “It says I can bring my mates or a guest. I’ll probably just bring Tyrande.”

The high elf heiress bounced excitedly. “I get to meet all the big dragons. It will be fun. I convinced our parents it makes sense from a diplomatic standpoint.”

“Yes, I’m sure being in a room full of the most dangerous paranormals on the planet will be ‘fun’.” Morgana was less amused. “I bet at least one of the male dragons will try to get handsy with Yev.”

The high elf sisters wrinkled their noses in unison.

Morgana took on her trainer's voice as she continued. “These are old creatures, and you need to remember that. The idea of sexism and sexual harassment might have only come up during their latest nap.”

“Will we be safe?” Scarlett asked, taking a quick glance at Jadelyn.

“Zach marked us. We will be fine.” Jadelyn pushed back her shoulders, clearly ready to dig in her heels if Scarlett tried to stop her from coming.

I tried to ease everyone’s mind. “We will figure out all our protocols and safety plans.” Scarlett nodded profusely as I said the word protocols and I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to laugh. Sometimes, she was easy to please.

I continued on. “I’ll keep all of you safe and make an example of any dragons that need to learn their place.”

“Awe. I love my dragon.” Jadelyn cuddled in, and the Highaen sisters looked away. I wondered why they were more uncomfortable with us touching than they were before, but it wasn’t worth raising.

I sat back, enjoying some easy conversation with the sisters until they finally left, and we packed up for our flight in the morning.