Page 31 of Vengeance and Fire

“Well, fuck, if that was your battle cry, sweetheart, I’m ready to go and wreck some shit. Torin, I think she’s got you beat on speeches, brother.” Gale laughs.

“I don’t think I could have said it better.” Torin leans down and kisses her cheek and she beams up at him.

Dravyn walks to the front door with our packs and ready to go. “Well, you heard our queen, it’s time to go save our family.” He grabs his pack and then Cordelia’s, offering her the biggest smile I have ever seen him give her and trots out the door. She lets him go. I was ready for there to be an argument about her carrying her own things and she doesn’t need his help speech, but it doesn’t happen.

“I won’t be doing much for myself after this, will I?” she asks the three of us.

“Not a chance,” we all say in unison.

“Figures. A woman tells you she’s carrying your children and you try to wrap her in bubble wrap.” She huffs. “Alpha ass Dragons.” She tsks, placing her hands on those lovely hips of hers.

“Always, baby,” I tell her as I pass, smacking her ass on my way out the door.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

GALE

As soon as we pass through the portal back into Arcadia, Cordelia has us all join hands and without breaking a sweat the shadows grow up around us and transports us all back to the palace. She is getting stronger by the day. Before I can tell her how amazing she is, Adrian begins shouting orders to everyone. Luckily, the Wolves don’t need armor, and neither do we, the palace staff rush out to meet us, followed by my sister, my mother, and Dravyn’s mom. Cordelia quickly relays to them the situation happening in Celestia and what we are about to do. No one speaks about the possibility that we won’t return. I think we all know that in the back of our minds, talking about it won’t help. Especially, when it comes to those close to us.

My mother and sister retreat with Cordelia, with Silva following behind her. Falyn doesn’t like it one bit, but Silva tells him it is her duty to serve and that is what she is going to do. I have to say I am proud. She is already taking command of the situation and it is refreshing to see.

The Wolves are escorted to another empty wing of the palace. I assume it will be theirs until they are able to decide where they wish to live.

Torin and Adrian immediately go to call our soldiers to them, leaving Dravyn and I behind. Miriam approaches her son and wraps him tight in a hug. Dravyn towers over her, he is holding her, not the other way around. I feel awkward standing there as they have their moment together. I’m only standing here because, well, I have nowhere else to be.

Miriam pulls away, stepping back to address us both. “Thaddeus?” she asks, and I am sure she is wondering if he is in Celestia. I bet my Dragon’s second cock he is. OK, maybe not, but I guarandamntee he is.

“Dead, we think. Silva said he hasn’t been seen by Maurelle’s side. Just the other Barons. Twyla told Silva she thinks King Maddox got to him first.” Dravyn runs his hands down his face, as if he is frustrated he couldn’t get to his father first. I mean, it’s great if Maddox got him, but Thaddeus is on all of our kill list.

Miriam watches her son's reaction and continues. “Do you really believe he is gone?” She asks as she points at her chest, tapping it gently, and both Dravyn and I realize it at the same time.

“The bond. You can still feel him,” I say in surprise.

“I can tell something must have happened to him because I felt his pain, but Dravyn, your father is alive.” Miriam crosses her arms over her chest and squares her shoulders.

“Make sure you kill him. I want to feel it when you do,” she tells him. She reaches up and touches Dravyn’s cheek, and he leans into her touch. “Then you come back to me. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Have no doubts, Mom. He as good as dead.” Dravyn’s fists clench at his side, and I offer my own reassurance that I will do whatever it takes to makes sure he honors his mother’s wishes. After everything she’s been through, I can help serve up some swift justice.

Miriam accepts his words, as if she can already see it will be done. She turns and offers me a nod and walks back up the steps and out of sight. When it’s the two of us, we both stay silent for a long time, lost in our thoughts. My relationship with Dravyn is rocky, and that has everything to do with me being a jealous asshole. Knowing is half the battle. Those are my mother’s words, not mine. I am sure there is so much more we don’t know about his time under Maurelle’s control. No child deserved the abuse he received. Thaddeus deserves a thousand deaths. I can think of so many creative ways for him to die.

“I’ve been waiting for a very long time for this,” he finally says, breaking the silence between us.

“I know. I will gladly bear witness when you strike him down. That’s what brothers do.” I close the distance between us, patting his shoulder, hoping that my words will bridge the gap that is still between us. Besides, he is stuck with me for life.

“Is that your way of telling me you love me?” He turns with a smile.

I don’t answer him as he follows me to catch up with the others. If we all come out of this together in one piece, then I’ll admit the man who was once a shadow has indeed grown on me.

* * *

CORDELIA

The armor fits me like a glove. I expect nothing less when my mother is involved. The soft leather molds over my body like a tight embrace, the intricate gold embroidery accentuates every curve, the tunic flows down like a dress, but I have full access to my legs. I feel beautiful with one of mother’s crowns perched on top of my head. I feel powerful as I check the leg strap, making sure I don’t lose my knife. Standing I take my sword that Maddox had made for me, trying not to get emotional over the fact that I might be too late to help save him. Sliding the sword into its sheath at my waist, I stand up straighter as the wind whips around my braids.

I make a note to myself to claim Reise’s mate CeeCee as my personal hairdresser. Especially now that I’ve lost Silva. I look over at her across the open clearing. Her hand is in Falyn’s with a soft smile on her face. Earlier I asked if she knew anymore about her lineage, and she told me all she knows is that she was always called a dud with no magic. Hopefully the seers will help her further and she can get some answers. If anyone can tell her more about who or what she is, it will be them.

“Are you ready?” my father asks as he steps up beside me.

---