Page 4 of Vengeance and Fire

“The place you were taken from.”

They all speak in unison, but offer me different answers like before, and it’s confusing trying to focus on who is saying what. I sit up and a wave of dizziness washes over me. I sway in my sitting position as three sets of hands land on my naked body. I looked down at myself and I sigh in relief as realize I’ve been covered up with a white sheet. The last thing I need to worry about is my dick being on display.

“Where is my—”

“She brought you here.”

“They brought you here.”

“She saved you.”

They all speak again and the whole chorus thing is getting old real fast.

“Please, just one of you. My brain feels like it’s about to explode.” I rub at my temples, still looking around in disbelief. I’m alive. Cordelia saved me.

“My apologies, we forget how overwhelming our presence can be to others.” One of the women steps forward and offers me her hand. I take it as she helps me to my feet.

“I’m in Arcadia. Is Cordelia here? Are Torin, Adrian, and Gale too?” I scramble to hold the sheet in place as the women offers me a smirk, their silver eyebrows lift at the same time, giving off we couldn’t care less about your naked body vibes.

“Yes.” They say as one. I nod my head in understanding, grateful that they didn’t give me three cryptic answers to comb through.

“We were able to call you back from the abyss. The Wraith had almost taken all of you, but they couldn’t take him. He held on to you, he kept you alive.” One of them says with a knowing smile.

“He?” I ask, but I think I already know the answer to my own question.

“Your Dragon. Your Golden Dragon.” The one who stepped forward initially says.

“Why?” Is all I can say. I have never even heard of a Golden Dragon. I thought he was gold because he was from heaven, a vision, a ghost even.

“He is rare, because you are rare. Like our queen, you are special. The fifth element. Creation. You have the ability to weave all magic together. The ability to create worlds even. Not life, of course, but when combined with the magic of our queen and her mates, you, lost one, are infinite in your possibilities. That is why you belong to her and she to you. You complete them. You were no mistake, my child. You were always meant to be. We thought you were lost to us. The Fae Queen had all but suppressed him to the corners of your being. If it hadn’t been for Dain, you would have been gone forever. You are Arcadia’s chance, and the chance to heal the Realms.” The woman stops and steps back in line with the other two and hangs her head.

“Lost,” they say together.

I don’t know what to think about what they are saying. I am in awe of their words. I am no one, a pawn to be passed around and used for my father’s benefit. For Maurelle’s entertainment. Now, they are telling me I have a purpose. That my mate is meant for me, and I am for her. That all of us are supposed to be together. I knew deep down within my heart and soul that this bond between Cordelia and me wasn’t just manufactured like Maurelle told me. We were meant.

The need to see her is strong, as I pour my feelings down our bond, I instantly feel a response. Like a deep intake of breath from a lack of oxygen, I feel relief to feel her—to feel them. I search the faces of the women in front of me, wanting to ask questions but needing Cordelia more.

“Go to her,” they say at the same time. “Our queen will come to us in time. We will be seeing you soon, Dravyn . . . sooner than you think.” I blink, ready to ask what they were really trying to say but they were gone.

“Soon,” their detached voices whisper to me. Pain like nothing I’ve ever felt rocks through my body, causing me to collapse to my knees. My bones crack, rearranging and lengthening as gold scales erupt up and down my body. The night Cordelia emerged I wondered what it felt like to shift for the first time, I never got to ask her. Well, now I know.

“Fuck. It hurts,” I say out loud, my voice coming out in a strained part painful groan and part growl. I close my tear-filled eyes and let the shift take over. I was used to pain, I knew the moment you give yourself over to it and let it consume you, then it’s over. I feel myself taking a back seat in my mind as my Dragon takes control. Then it was just us. Our massive head looks up towards the open hole at the top of the cave.Mate. One word, one thought, and then we are airborne. Shooting out of the roof of the cave into the early morning light. I feel the exhilaration flow through me as my Dragon soars through the sky, catching pockets of wind as he glides through the air. I have no idea where we are headed but he does. I let my focus remain singular. I am alive. She saved me. My Cordelia. My mate. My heart.

CHAPTERTHREE

CORDELIA

“It’s official. My vagina is on vacation,” I groan as I untangle myself from muscular limbs that have pinned me down to the bed. I don’t know if it’s Adrian, Torin, or Gale. All I know for sure is that I’m a hot and sweaty mess, and I am done lying in who knows how much body fluids.

My heat lasted four more days. Four days in this built for purpose mating cave. It’s more like a condo built into a side of a mountain. The cave, and I say that loosely, is a modern open planned room with all the bells and whistles. When you enter through the front door, instead of going into a bedroom there is an entry hall that opens into a massive circular room with a bed built down into the floor. The nest-like bed is covered in pillows and soft blankets and could easily accommodate ten people. There is a large shower room, begging for you to shower with all your mates at once. I ticked that off the list and don’t think we left there for at least half a day. Lots of pruning skin, but hell, I didn’t care. The other main room was the restaurant sized kitchen that was stocked for an apocalypse. There was nothing for me to do but fuck, shower, eat, and sleep. Not always in that order. Four days in the middle of everything else that’s going on in my mind. My father, Dravyn, and all the other issues I need to address now that I am finally returned to Arcadia. I couldn’t think of anything other than fulfilling my needs, so I gave in and let my mates take care of me.

“You know once you leave this nest, that’s it, gorgeous. Then it’s all business.” Gale grabs my ankle and sends me crashing down on top of a sleeping Torin. He groans and wraps me in his arms, as if I hadn’t just climbed out from under him. Burying his head in my hair he begins to sniff me. His long muscular legs entangle mine as he rubs his nose up and down my neck.

“He’s right, you know. I think after everything you’ve been through you can stay here just a little while longer.” Torin kisses my hair and pulls me in closer. Any other time I would have been happy to cuddle and stay right where I am, but the telltale sign of his growing erection has me pulling away.

“No. No. No.” I stand, stepping over mounds of pillows and blankets in which I try not to give a closer inspection. Thank the heavens I don’t have to worry about going into heat again for another three years. It’s a messy business. Maybe next time I will actually enjoy it. All I can think about is what I need to do next. So when I finally manage to step out of the nest my thoughts begin to clear. I’ve had a few days on my back to learn all the terminology associated with heat and I am now up to speed. It’s been an educational experience. Now I need the longest, hottest shower alone without a man to tempt me.

“Delia, baby, I get it. I am all for action. Torin is right. You can afford another day.” I can hear Adrian following behind me, and a quick glance over my shoulder has me practically running to the bathroom. I can’t look at a very naked Adrian with his dick swinging like a pendulum, attempting to dickmatize me back to bed.

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