Page 12 of Risen
“We are not your—” I stopped before I said pets out loud.As if using her word would make it true.At least she was just demanding that I deliver a message this time.I probably shouldn’t rile her any further.
I shoved the old charm into my pocket and stood.When I opened the main door to the suite, something slid over my foot.I looked down; a pale serpent lifted its head, tasting the air with a flick of its tongue, then slipped past in a whisper of smooth muscle and scale.The enclave never truly slept.Not too far off, water murmured.Above, rock and earth loomed.Between, people—and the snakes the naga sometimes kept as familiars—kept watch over the outsiders.The naga might seem content here, but I knew they hadn’t forgotten the pain and upheaval of being attacked and driven from their previous home.
I stepped into the corridor.A shadow immediately detached itself from a carved pillar, my night-sharp eyes immediately identifying it as Sanka.
He loomed without trying to—impossibly broad shoulders covered in a knit sweater, hair damp from a recent rinse, scent like clean stone after rain.He must have been doing some sort of training between shifts on watch, to have needed another shower.I knew all that muscle didn’t come from nothing.I licked my lips.He smelled delicious, all the other smells layered over the natural scent of heat and male, cinnamon and strong magic.
I tamped down the part of me that found the sorcerer more than a little attractive.The last thing that anyone wanted was to be hit on by the depraved vampire baggage they were forced to drag around.And the last thingIwanted was to become even more attached to anyone here.It would only give Acacia more ideas for how to torment me.If she sensed my emotions just now, she’d have me trying to maim him next.
His eyes caught the dim light the runes gave off, then flashed red for an instant as he no doubt wondered if he was about to face off with Acacia, or if it was just me.
“Where are you off to, my friend?”he asked, his deep voice friendly, despite my penchant for flipping out and trying to eat people.
I grimaced.“Someone insisted I go for a walk.It seems I have things to convey to Robin.”I rolled my eyes.“She wants the shifter king dead now.”
Sanka grunted.“Of course she does.And does she have anything to offer for this new chore?”He looked through me, speaking just for Acacia.“I believe our alpha told you she was done dancing to your tune without any fucking payoff, vamp.”
Pain lanced through my head, and I knew she was trying to speak through me.But she couldn’t quite get a hold on my body.Grimacing, I pressed a hand to my forehead.“She says she has information this time.The emperor has asked to resume their monthly… meetings.So, she can lead us to him, like before.”
I wanted to rage at her, ask her why she didn’t just kill him herself then, since she had private meetings with the man.But I already knew the answer.From what Ruya had gathered during her time with the vampires, the emperor was draining Acacia of her magic during these meetings.And it was also well-known within the syndicate that she spent time with him—though most thought it was only because she was his lover.
If Acacia tried to kill the emperor directly, not only would she likely fail, but she risked backlash from his supporters on the off-chance that she should succeed.However, if he justhappenedto be murdered by someoneelse,she could pin the blame on the rebel court, say she’d fought alongside the emperor to try to stop us, and paint herself as the savior of the syndicate, bringing the emperor’s old supporters under her wing when she killed the people who assassinated the emperor and took over.
Or so she thought.
I couldn’t wait to see the bitch proven wrong.
My new vampire senses told me that Robin wasn’t in the our suite of rooms.Sanka woke Martina and put her on guard in his place, then led me down the hallway.We found the dragon alpha nearly a block away from the naga palace, pacing along the footbridge that crossed the underground river.
I wondered if anyone in the court really slept through the night anymore.
Robin wasn’t pleased to see us.Her pretty golden-brown eyes flashed to pure dragon gold when her gaze landed on me.“Josh,” she said in that soft, husky voice.Her tone managed to convey a wealth of emotion in that one word—fatigue, resignation, impatience, annoyance… she knew if I was seeking her out she was going to have to deal with more of Acacia’s bullshit.“Out for a midnight stroll?”
I stifled a shudder as I stood in the presence of the alpha who had made a show of turning into a dragon and crushing me in her jaws.I understood her motivations, understood that she had probably saved my life with her theatrics, but everything in me screamed that I was in danger.
She saw it, and moved before I could speak.I couldn’t hold back a flinch when she stepped into my space with her hand raised.She saw that too, and dropped the hand immediately, rather than touching my cheek, the way it seemed like she had meant to.She stepped back.“Josh.”This time the word conveyed different emotions—regret, sadness, chagrin.“I’m sorry.”
I jerked my head up, meeting her eyes in surprise.I was knew that apologizing wasn’t something that came naturally to her—or to any alpha for that matter.“You did what you thought you needed to do,” I managed to say, at a loss.
She shook her head, her long, loose red-gold hair rippling around her.How could she look so fragile sometimes—so delicate and vulnerable—when she was so strong?“It was impulsive of me.”She murmured.“And wrong.I should have figured out another way.I’m… not thinking clearly these days.All my tiny dragon brain thought of in that moment was that things were slipping out of my control.That Acacia needed to be put in her place.That you’d heal any damage, and Ruya would help.There was no consideration for… the more lasting damage I’ve done.And for that, I’m truly sorry.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat and blinked rapidly to keep from letting the tears escape.Now wasn’t the time or the place to have a meltdown.Sanka’s big, warm hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed.“Poor kid.You’ve had a hell of time of it since you joined up with our lot.And no one should be welcomed to being a paranorm this way.It should be something to celebrate.Not one big fucking funeral march of awfulness.”
I huffed, focusing on the only part of that tirade that I could process.“Kid?”
Sanka just chuckled.“Well, I think you’re young by my standards.And compared to granny over there, you’re just a baby.”He jerked his head toward Robin.
The dragon huffed.“Technically, I’m only barely an adult dragon.And you’re nearly as old as I am, sorcerer.Don’t call megranny.”
Somehow, their stupid banter eased the tension in my shoulders.Which was probably their intention.I met Robin’s eyes again and she tilted her head as she watched me, seeing and hearing things that only an alpha could.
Slowly, gently, she nudged a bit of her alpha influence my way, letting her aura unfold in that way they had.It was a silent inquiry between us.Had I forgiven the hurt she caused me?Would I maybe trust her enough to let her ease some of my fear and discomfort?
My initial impulse was to tell her she wasn’tmyalpha and get the hell out of here.But I knew that was only the fear talking.Robin might be flailing a bit lately, but shewastrying her best.And I knew an alpha in distress when I saw one.Maybe letting her pretend I was hers for a time would soothe us both.So, I stood my ground, giving her a little nod of acceptance.
The strong, steady, grounding energy she shared with me helped me breathe easier.My muscles relaxed as the silly beta in me responded to the alpha in her.I had the alpha’s favor, which made everything right in the world.I wasn’t about to be attacked.I was protected.
“Thank you,” I whispered, looking at the ground.
