Authors: Scarlet Hyacinth
Tags: #Romance
“Unfortunately, that’s true. But our opponents aren’t stupid, Sage. I’ve recently discovered that they’ve invented weapons that can hurt us. I’ve tested them on my own scales, and they actually affect me.”
Sage gaped. He couldn’t believe his ears. If there had been one thing he’d always considered a certainty, it was the reliable strength of the draechen. No one could take on his people and win. No one. But if his general was correct in his assessment—and Sage had no doubt that it must be the case—then even if the draechen won, the price they paid for victory could be very high indeed.
“If I share this with Father, or even with my brother, the war would undoubtedly erupt at once. Therefore, the only way to prevent bloodshed is to stop the war.”
“You have my assistance, for whatever you need,” Sage answered, “but I’m not sure I can do anything that could help you in such an overwhelming endeavor.”
“You’ve helped me once.” Impossibly, Shtamakarein’s expression grew even more cautious. “Tell me, Sage, what did you think of my fiancé?”
The odd non sequitur took Sage by surprise. “I’m not sure what to think,” Sage admitted. “I suppose he’s attractive enough, but I don’t like that you were forced into a marriage with him. And earlier this year, there were some suspicions regarding his integrity.”
He had heard a rumor that Sareltae had been involved in the escape of the general’s ex-fiancé, Caelyn, but the emperor had quieted it down, probably because they’d never been able to prove anything. It was only Sage’s proximity to Shtamakarein that had allowed him to know about it in the first place.
“Well, whatever you heard is likely correct,” the general answered, “but that’s irrelevant right now. Sareltae is my mate.”
Sage nodded, unsure of what his general meant. “Yes, I know.”
“No.” Shtamakarein shook his head, looking a little frustrated. “I mean, my true mate. My other half.”
Sage would have been less shocked if someone had told him the moon was made out of cheese. “But how?” he gasped out.
“I have no idea,” the prince answered, “but I’m not going to question it. I need to see him, in private. He’s alone in his rooms right now, but I can’t allow anyone to know I’m going to see him. My parents encouraged me to seduce him, but such a move would be too bold, suspicious.”
Sage was finally getting the picture. “Worry not, Highness. I can be your alibi and distract the guards while you go see your mate.” In spite of all the serious things he’d learned tonight, he couldn’t help but smile. “Congratulations, General Shtamakarein.”
He felt truly relieved that his general had found his mate. With Shtamakarein’s two hundredth birthday approaching, the risk of losing the man he respected so much had become exceedingly high. Sage had been more than willing to offer himself to Shtamakarein as an anchor, even if he’d know he’d only ever be a poor substitute to what his general really needed. However, he’d been refused. Fortunately, the Overlords were on their side as they had granted Shtamakarein the beautiful gift of his true mate.
“Thank you,” the prince replied. “And please, at least when we’re alone, call me Karein. I grow weary of such formality everywhere.”
The honor humbled Sage, and he started to protest, “I couldn’t possibly—”
“You can, and you will,” Shtamakarein interrupted him. “Considered it a command if you must. And now, I have to go. My mate is waiting. Here’s what you need to do for me. Distract the guards as I fly toward them, and then make sure the soldiers watching Sareltae’s door don’t interfere or overhear us.”
“I understand, Highness.” When Karein gave him a look, Sage corrected himself. “I mean, Karein.”
With a satisfied nod, Shtamakarein—no, Karein—melted into his dragon form. As Sage did the same, he made a mental vow to himself, Karein, and the Overlords that he would not fail his leader and his people. Somehow, he and Karein would find a way to stop the war, no matter what.
* * * *
Sari leaned against the banister of his room, admiring the view in the distance. It was very different from his home in France, but Sari found that he liked it. The fresh mountain air cleared his head, making him breathe easier. The green of the forests seemed to beckon him closer, and Sari wished he could go and explore, but he was trapped here, in his room.
A gust of wind swept over the balcony, reminding Sari that Draechenburg was definitely not Rose Noire. With a sigh, Sari shivered, wrapping his cloak tighter around him. He should be going back inside, but the room held no appeal to him. In fact, just the thought of waiting there, alone and abandoned, horrified him. He wondered where his mate was. He wondered if Karein even cared about him all. The draechen’s behavior had been puzzling to say the least, and while the situation certainly seemed better than this morning, Sari didn’t know what to think.
Out of the blue, Sari felt a strange, almost familiar presence approach. He looked up, scrutinizing the horizon, and gasped as he saw a black dragon approach.
He had never seen his mate in shifted form, but it didn’t surprise him that Karein’s dragon was as majestic as his human shape. As the black beast flew closer, Sari’s mouth grew dry, his knees turning to jelly. He gripped the banister, trying to steady himself. It wasn’t fear that made him so nervous, but rather, the knowledge that, for the first time, he would be alone with his mate. He had no clue how to react. What was even appropriate under these circumstances? Sari’s instinct as a fae drew him to Karein in a sexual way, but he’d also been raised into chastity. So far, his life had been dedicated to Jenarra, like his mother’s had been. He’d known that would change upon his marriage, but he hadn’t been prepared for the pull Karein had on him.
At last, the black dragon reached the balcony and landed onto the dark marble. Sari watched as the large beast melted into the very naked form of his mate. His face flamed at the sight, and he studiously looked away, but not before he caught a guilty glimpse of the generous member between Karein’s legs.
Oh, Jenarra above, help me.
“W–what are you doing here?” he stammered out.
“Don’t you know?” Karein’s voice was a growl as he stepped closer to Sari. He gripped Sari’s chin and forced their eyes to meet. “Are you afraid of me, my beautiful prince?”
Sari shook his head, swallowing around the sudden knot in his throat. “I’m afraid of what you make me feel.”
He had promised his family that he’d never allow the draechen prince in his head, but now that he’d learned Karein was his mate, all bets were off.
Instead of addressing that, Karein caressed Sari’s cheek with striking gentleness. “You’re cold,” he murmured. His breath formed a cloud in the frigid air, and Sari whimpered as he realized just how close they were. This time, when he shivered, it wasn’t because of the chilly wind. Even so, by some miracle, he managed to answer, “So are you.”
“I’m fine.” Karein chuckled. “We’re more than used to it. Draechenburg was built to facilitate the most important things we need, secrecy and flight. The chill is a side-effect that doesn’t really bother most, and that some of us, ice dragons in particular, enjoy.”
Were they really just standing here, discussing geography and architecture? It was insane. They had far more important and worrisome things to handle. But Sari really couldn’t remember what they were, not when Karein’s heat was chasing away the coldness in his body and in his heart away.
Lost in the night of Karein’s eyes, Sari found himself dropping his cloak. He was dressed in only thin layers of silk, which in hindsight, might not have been such a good idea given the temperature in his place. The lust that flashed through Karein’s gaze made it all worthwhile, though. Slowly, the draechen maneuvered Sari back until he pinned him against the wall of the building. He buried his face in Sari’s hair and just inhaled. “Incense and vanilla,” he murmured. “I knew it.”
The new position practically brought Karein’s naked form right next to Sari’s body. The nudge of Karein’s erection against Sari’s hip left no doubt to the fact that Karein desired him. Sari knew he should have probably pulled away, but he simply couldn’t make himself do so. A voice that sounded shockingly like his own croaked out, “Touch me.”
He half expected Karein to lunge at him, to devour him whole. That dangerous promise lived in Karein’s eyes. Sari could see it. Instead, the draechen started to unpin Sari’s locks, releasing them from the elaborate hairdo they had been arranged in. He threaded his fingers through Sari’s tresses, all the while rubbing against Sari’s body. “So soft,” he whispered as he brushed his lips over Sari’s temple. “Your skin is like the silk of your robes. I can’t bear it.”
There was pure torment in his voice, and Sari had to do something about it. He wrapped his arms around Karein’s neck, his heart hammering as he said, “You don’t have to hold back. You’re with me now.”
Karein shook his head and pulled away. The motion struck Sari like a physical blow. “Karein, what is it?” he asked.
“You don’t understand,” the draechen answered. “I can hurt you so easily. That’s what I do. I hurt and destroy. I’m a murderer.”
The pain and shame in Karein’s voice nearly shattered Sari. How foolish his shyness seemed now. Compared to what Karein must have suffered, Sari’s loneliness and doubts were nothing.
Taking Karein’s hand, Sari started to pull the draechen into the bedroom. “Come on,” he said. “It’s cold out here.”
Fortunately, Karein complied, and together, they left the balcony, closing the door behind them. The temperature in Sari’s quarters wasn’t much higher as Sari had let the fire go out. However, the coals were still burning in the hearth, and with a wave of his hand, Karein created a jolly, strong blaze.
Sari had heard a great deal about Karein’s mysterious power, and he suspected it must be just like Prince Kaelezrin’s. Still, he wanted to know more. “What can you do, exactly?” he inquired.
As he spoke, he scanned the room for anything Karein could wear. His own clothing would never fit the draechen. Eventually, he remembered a robe he’d seen in the bathroom and offered it to Karein.
The draechen grinned at him as he took the item and pulled it on. “I’m going to be offended that you don’t like the sight of my nakedness,” he commented.
“It’s not that I don’t like it,” Sari replied honestly. “I like it too much. And you haven’t answered my question.”
“There’s no such thing as liking one’s mate too much,” Karein shot back. His grin melted into a more serious expression when he added, “And I drain energy. I can manipulate it to my whim, no matter what its source might be. Whether it is magical, organic, or even kinetic, I can control it.”
Sari had to admit that he had trouble registering Karein’s explanation. His mind had become fixed on that single word. Mate. “Do you realize what you’re saying?” he blurted out.
Karein’s breath caught as if Sari had slapped him. “I realize all too well. I’ve always known that my existence is parasitical to—”
“Stop!” Sari interrupted him, placing his hand over Karein’s mouth. “Jenarra above, that’s not what I meant. You said that I was your mate. Do you really believe that?” Because of their unique situation, he elaborated, “Do you realize that I’m your true mate?”
Karein nodded and slowly removed Sari’s palm off his lips. As if he couldn’t help himself, he kissed Sari’s knuckles. “I thought we were both clear on that point. Believe me, I’d have never risked such a bold step so soon if I hadn’t know for sure that we were meant to be.”
“Oh.” Sari’s knees gave out now, and he would have fallen if Karein hadn’t caught him. Looking a little worried, Karein carried Sari to the couch and deposited him there with excruciating care.
“Are you all right?” he asked as he sat down next to Sari. “Am I hurting you?”
“What?” Sari blinked, truly having trouble processing the question. Karein’s confession finally dawned, and he understood that Karein feared draining Sari’s energy like he must have done with other people before. “No, of course not. I mean, you’re not hurting me. I’m just being stupid. I didn’t expect any of this.”
“Neither did I,” Karein admitted. “But I have to ask… Why aren’t you shocked or afraid at what I can do?”
“I understand it more than other people might be able to,” Sari answered. “For years, I’ve studied the lives of Prince Talrasar and Prince Kaelezrin. There are few records of what actually happened then, but I’ve compiled some things and figured out pretty much how his power worked. I’m told that you’re the only black dragon who was born after him, so I just guessed that it must be similar for you.”
Caelyn had also told him a couple of things, but Sari didn’t want to get into that. In fact, he didn’t want to think about Caelyn at all. He’d never thought he’d be angry with his friend, but just the thought that Caelyn had, in one way or another, hurt Karein infuriated Sari.
His anger and frustration must have showed, because Karein inquired, “What are you thinking? You were frowning so fiercely just now.”
“Nothing,” Sari replied automatically. When Karein arched a brow, Sari amended, “I was just remembering what Caelyn used to say about you. His behavior toward you upsets me.”
Intellectually, he realized that Caelyn couldn’t have done things any different. Caelyn had his own mate and family to worry about. But Sari’s heart screamed that Caelyn had just been one of the many people who’d turned their backs on Karein. Just hearing the self-loathing in Karein’s voice when he had called himself a parasite made Sari realize how many things were wrong with this picture.
“Circumstances forced us all in a regrettable position,” Karein replied. “He cared about his wolf, as he should have.”
Karein’s strange phrasing reminded Sari that they were still in the draechen palace, where foes could be hiding behind every corner. Of course, Karein knew that Caelyn and Graham were still alive, but his words suggested differently. Sari decided to play along. Perhaps his mate knew something he didn’t. Was someone listening in on their conversation?
He must have looked panicked, because Karein said, “It’s okay. No one can hear us. Just keep your voice down, and we’ll be fine. I made sure the guards were distracted.”