Page 9 of Vengeance and Fire

“I don’t care what’s happening. Listen to our people,” Gale says, whooping with excitement right along with everyone else, jumping up and down like a big ass kid. I can’t help my own smile and finally I don’t hold back.

It seems our girl has won the people over, and the sun shines down on us a little brighter than it had earlier.

CHAPTERSIX

GALE

“Cordelia. This is my mother, Greer, and my sister, Cree.” I tuck my girl under my arm, holding her close as I walk her through the entry doors to the place where my family stands. My sister Cree bows so low I thought she was going to lick the dirt off the floor. My mother on the other hand walks right up to Cordelia, pulls her from my arms, and hugs her tight. Cordelia is stiff at first, as if she’s unsure how to react to my mother’s overly familiar approach.

“Mom—”

“Boy, please.” My mother cuts me off, tsks and continues. “Don’t Mom me. I was there the day she was born. I am overjoyed, Cordelia. Overjoyed.” She hugs her once more and releases her. Cordelia smiles and turns her attention to my sister.

“It’s nice to meet you both.” She looks back at Torin, Adrian, and Dravyn for support, but they all smile softly and send encouragement to her through our bond. “You don’t have to bow to me, Cree. To be honest, I don’t know what to do or say to that.” She shrugs and holds out her hand to my sister, Cree’s eyes go as wide as saucers as Cordelia hauls her off the floor.

My mother’s eyes glaze over once more, and I know the waterworks are going to start up again if I don’t intervene. “Mom, didn’t you want to give Cordelia a tour,” I ask, trying to keep things on track.

The cavernous atrium we’re standing in opens up into a cathedral style structure, large enough to fit several full-grown Dragons. It is said that Arcadians spent more time in Dragon form in the early days of the Realm's creation, hence why everything in the palace, well, every region is larger than life.

My mom smiles. “Ah, yes, a tour, right.” She claps her hands in preparation to proceed but stops. “Cordelia?” My mom lifts her eyebrow in question at me. Asking without asking directly what Cordelia wants to be called.

“Delia, if you like or Cordelia is fine. You are family, so we can skip all the formality.” Cordelia walks forward and hooks her arm over my mother’s elbow and beckons her forward. My sister follows, turning quick to mouth “OMG!” to me as she hurries to follow. I didn’t think I could love Cordelia more, but in this moment, seeing her with my family, and then accepting them so easily, it makes my heart skip a beat.

“Wow. Gale. Lovesick much,” Adrian teases as he passes me to follow Cordelia.

“Only lovesick for her. I mean, do you know how hard my dick is right now?” I adjust myself as Dravyn makes a disgusting gagging noise behind me. Torin laughs and pushes me forward.

“Hey, don’t tell me you aren’t just as excited as me at how well that went out there.” I can still hear the music through the doors as people party in the street. It is a great day for Arcadia, and our people deserve a reason to celebrate. Life has been so hard for everyone; the land is dying, and we thought our queen was dead; we had lost hope.

“Oh, I didn’t say I wasn’t proud. I don’t want to hear about your hard dick, though,” Dravyn said matter-of-factly. Yep, it’s official. He belongs with us. He banters so beautifully.

“OK, enough dick talk.” Torin rolls his eyes. “We still have Black Barons down in the dungeons. As much as I don’t want to bring it up, Cordelia will need to decide what she wants us to do with them.”

“I say we kill them. We are talking about years of torment on our people. Especially my people.” I can tell Adrian is getting angry. I agree, those sons of bitches don’t deserve to live. I hoped they had put up more of a fight so we didn’t have to be fucking merciful.

“There are rules. Adrian, we—”

“Where were the rules when they killed my mother and sister? Where were the rules when they imprisoned your mother?” Adrian closes the distance between himself and Torin, standing toe to toe. “Were there rules when they oppressed the women of this Realm and silenced them completely?” Adrian’s voice is full of wrath. I know his anger isn’t directed at Torin. His face looks haunted, obviously his mind is stuck in the past.

“Do you think that I don’t want to kill them all?” Torin roars. He steps away from Adrian only to do a one-eighty and comes back with more. “Wouldn’t that make us as bad as them? With no due process. Just off with their heads, huh? Hell no, Adrian!” Torin growls out. Dravyn and I stand back and watch them volley back and forth, until a clearing of a throat catches all of our attention.

“What’s wrong?” Cordelia asks with her hands on her hips. My mother frowns behind her, shooting me a death glare, as if I am the one that is responsible for this.

“We can discuss it later. I didn’t mean to stop the tour.” Torin steps away with his hands on his hips, attempting to calm himself. Adrian’s teeth are clenched so tight he might crack his jaw.

“No, really. You’re upset.” She looks over at Torin, but he shrugs it off, as if he’s not wanting to aggravate Adrian any further. “You’re so sad, Adrian.” She walks up to him and cups his chin in her hand. “Eventually, I am going to need to know what’s causing this pain inside of you.” She stands on her tiptoes and touches his forehead against hers. Adrian takes a deep breath. Like a magic balm has encompassed him, he begins to relax. Gathering Cordelia in his arms, he hugs her to his chest.

“Thank you,” he says softy against her hair. “I can’t talk about it now, but I will tell you one day what causes my nightmares and makes me want to burn this place to the ground.” He rocks her gently; she only holds onto him tighter.

“When you’re ready to talk, then I will be ready to listen.” She steps away and holds out her hand for Adrian, and he laces his hand in hers.

“OK, now, you were saying that this castle has a staff of how many people?” Cordelia picks up exactly where she left off, like we haven’t had a conversation about killing people a few minutes ago.

“Two hundred and fifty,” my mother tells her. Cordelia gasps in surprise as we continue to walk through the palace as my mother points out room after room until we reach the golden set of elevators that go up to the bed chambers. All hundred and fifty rooms.

“Wait, so you’re telling me that all of these people have kept this place going for thirty years without anyone really in residence,” Cordelia scoffs.

“Yes. Thaddeus—” my mother practically spits bullets as his name is forced from her lips.

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