Keeper of the Flame (24 page)

“I love you, Lera. Most of all, I love
you
.”

She realized then, the list of things he’d given her while they were making love had led up to this most important declaration of all.

“I love you too, Hugh. With all my heart.”

Lera dozed against him as they lounged in the water. With his dragon nature, he could keep the water hot indefinitely, but he couldn’t prevent her skin from wrinkling up from the excess moisture. He thought it was kind of cute. But then, he loved everything about her. Including, apparently, the way her fingers pruned up from too long in the bath.

Speaking of which, Hugh decided it was time to get dry and make use of that comfy-looking bed he’d seen in the other room. He didn’t want to rouse her unless he had to. She’d been through a lot the past day or so, and it didn’t seem like things would get easier until the assassins were stopped for good. Lera needed her sleep while she could get it. There was a lot on her agenda for tomorrow.

He lifted her in his arms and allowed the water to drip off as much as possible before stepping out of the tub. Large towels were laid out on a shelf and he snagged one for Lera, propping her on the bench while he dried her sultry skin.

As a testament to how tired she was, she didn’t wake even while he rubbed the towel over her body. Giving his own skin a quick swipe, he used his dragon magic to warm the air around them a bit to accelerate the drying process and keep Lera comfortably warm.

After they were both dry, he lifted her in his arms again, walked into the bedroom and deposited her gently onto the fluffy mattress. Scooting in next to her and snuggling her into his arms, nothing had ever felt so perfect.

He fell asleep with that thought in his head and didn’t know anything more until a bell chimed hours later.

Hugh blinked awake, wondering where the sound was coming from. It was then that he noticed the bronze bell hung near the high ceiling. A ribbon led from it through a small hole in the wall, into the other room. Hugh assumed it ended in the hallway outside the door. A tug on the bell pull that hung decoratively alongside the door, and visitors could announce their presence in a discrete way.

Lera woke the second time the bell rang. One of her dainty hands rubbed at her eyes. She was adorable when she woke from a sound sleep, bleary-eyed and confused for a moment before she remembered where they were and why she was sharing her bed with him. He saw the moment she remembered and loved the sudden shyness that was quickly overcome by a leap of fire in her gaze as she looked at him.

“Someone is at the door,” she said unnecessarily.

“I gathered that.” He couldn’t help but be amused by her slow approach to waking up. “Shall I go see who it is?”

“Would you?” She looked relieved. “I’m not much of a morning person.” She covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned, then stretched one arm above her head.

He could have stayed there, watching her, but the bell rang a third time. Whoever was at the door must
really
want to talk to them.

He dropped a kiss on her forehead as he left the bed, shrugging into the clean shirt and simple, cloth trousers Brother Hubert had left for him as he headed into the outer room. He sent out a tendril of his magic before opening the door, as a precaution, even within these temple walls. He sensed a familiar presence on the other side. Brother Hubert had returned and Hugh’s sensitive nose caught a whiff of bacon and eggs. The priest had brought breakfast with him.

Even armed with the knowledge of who waited, Hugh unbarred and opened the door cautiously. He could never be too careful with Lera’s safety.

“Good morning, Brother Hubert,” Hugh greeted the old man with a sincere smile. He sobered instantly when he saw the grave expression on the old priest’s face. “What’s amiss?”

“I bring breakfast and news. There is a party of dragons sighted approaching in the western sky. They should be over the city within the hour.”

“Dragons? How many?” Hugh took the heavy tray laden with breakfast from the old man.

“At least two. And a strange gryphon as well. All have riders.”

“Will they be allowed to land on the tower, where we came in last night?”

“Is it wise? Do you believe they can withstand inspection by the eternal flame?” Brother Hubert’s eyes narrowed as if in worry.

“Yes, Brother. I have no doubts about any fighting dragon or their knight. As for the gryphons in the party, it will be up to them if they want to chance an encounter with the sacred fire.”

“As you wish, sire. I will relay the message to guide them here. Hyadror is going out to meet them, but only awaited your instructions.”

With that, Brother Hubert bowed slightly and left Hugh at the door, holding the tray.

Hugh would’ve liked to ask a few more questions, but no doubt time was of the essence. He kicked the door closed and used his elbow to lower the bar to lock it. Placing the tray on the low table in front of the couch, he went back into the bedroom to wake his lady.

By the time the dragon party was within sight of the temple tower, Hugh and Lera had eaten, dressed and were ready to greet them. They’d encountered Miss and the emissary in the hallway before leaving the temple to make their way to the tower. Miss bounded up to Hugh happily, full of energy and life. He was glad to see her so happy, but catching up with her about her activities since they’d parted the night before had to wait.

The emissary had taken the little one into another part of the temple that was being prepared for gryphons under her guidance while Hugh and Lera made a dash for the tower. They climbed the spiral ramp upward, reaching the roof in time to see the party approach in the distance.

Two dragons were flanked by at least two complete wings of gryphons acting as honor guard. Or maybe just
guards
. Hugh had no doubt the gryphons of Alagarithia were very suspicious of anything but their own ranks in the skies above their cities. Especially dragons.

“Do you know them?” Lera asked at his side.

Hugh smiled wide. “Oh, yes, I know them. And I believe you may know at least one of the knights now approaching. See that beautiful orange dragon? She is the Lady Jenet. That handsome bronze fellow flying at her side is Sir Nellin, partner to Sir Mace, one of the most steadfast and capable young knights I have ever known. We should be able to see the riders shortly…oh, now…that is interesting.”

“What?” Lera sounded eager. Hugh supposed her eyesight probably wasn’t as good as his. Being half dragon had many advantages, even while in human form.

“They’re riding double.” He couldn’t quite recognize the people on the dragons’ backs, but he began to suspect who the extras might be. “The lady is probably Krysta, wife to Jenet and Nellin’s partners. And the other is male. I think…”

“Hugh, is that you?”
The thought struck his mind from one very familiar.

“Collin? Is your evil twin lurking around here somewhere?”
Hugh broadcast his words to both minds he suspected would be nearby. The twins never went anywhere without each other.

“Nice to see you too, brother,”
answered a similar, but separate voice in his mind. It was his brother, Trey, Collin’s twin.
“Roland sent us to check up on you, and Nico figured you’d probably already blown the spy job anyway. Seems he was right. Good thing I didn’t place a bet on it.”

Hugh almost laughed out loud, but caught himself in time.
“Nice of you to have such faith in me,”
Hugh answered dryly, enjoying the joke even though it was at his expense. It was obvious that out of all his brothers, he was the one least suited to spy work.
“But where are you? I only see one of you riding on Nellin’s back.”

“I’m the one being choked by feathers,”
Trey answered.

Hugh looked sharply at the gryphon bringing up the rear of the party. Sure enough, there were two riders on its back as well. One was his brother. The other…

“Did you bring one of the fair folk with you?”
Hugh could hardly believe it.

“You’re quick,”
Trey teased.
“He and this bird bring a message from Gryffid.”

“So you didn’t come just to check up on me.”
Hugh didn’t bother asking it as a question. He knew the truth of the matter just from the make-up of the party. Things were about to get even more interesting than they’d been already.

The group was within landing distance of the tower, so Hugh made no further comment. He wondered what the priests and his new mate would make of the changes coming in on the wind. One thing Hugh knew for a certainty—he was glad to have trusted help to keep Lera safe. His brothers and the dragons and knights were all above suspicion and would aid him greatly in his quest to end the threat of the Eyes against his lady love.

Hugh watched them land, one by one, crowding into the small space on the tower’s top. The two dragons and lone gryphon took up most of the space, forcing most of the priests to squeeze into positions along the crenellated wall. Hugh, Lera and the High Priest stood near the doorway into the tower, the greeting party.

Hugh waited only for his brothers to dismount before orchestrating this little tableau. He sent his thoughts out to the dragons, knights and his brothers all at once.

“Collin, Trey, I want you both to hold back. Drake, you should be first, since you’ve been to Helios before. Introduce the fair one and the gryphon, but leave the rest for later, if possible. I want to downplay the rest of you for a bit. Things are happening here that you need to be aware of. Let’s just get you all into the tower and away from the circling hoard.”

Once again, the gryphons of Alagarithia circled in agitation high above the tower. Hugh thanked the Mother of All that there was no room on the tower for more to land—and that gryphons had to run the gauntlet of the eternal flame if they wanted to enter the temple complex. At least one of those circling could have deadly intent where Lera was concerned. Hugh would take every advantage to keep that particular gryphon from getting close to her.

They arranged themselves as Hugh instructed, and within a minute, Drake led the party of two-legged beings forward, the fair one at his side. He made a great show of bowing and Hugh saw the little start of surprise, quickly concealed when Drake saw Lera. But true to his bard training, Drake of the Five Lands didn’t miss a beat.

“Your Highness, it is so good to see your lovely face once again. It has been much too long since I visited your beautiful land,” Drake said as he bowed somewhat flamboyantly.

“Drake?” Lera seemed truly shocked. “Drake of the Five Lands? Riding a dragon?” She looked from Drake to the fire-colored dragon and back again.

Drake made a show of his embarrassment, though Hugh knew for a fact the newly made knight would never be embarrassed of his dragon. Rather, he was probably still operating under some misapprehension that he wasn’t good enough to partner the dragon. Such foolish thinking had already caused Drake to stay away from his homeland—and his dragon partner—for fifteen years. Now that they were truly united, he would never leave the dragon he’d been raised alongside ever again.

“Some remarkable things have happened to me in the recent past, milady. One of them is my partnership with Lady Jenet. She chose me as her knight and has forced a change in profession on me.” Drake smiled as he said the words, his expression rueful and inviting others to grin with him as he reached up to stroke the dragon’s cheek. Jenet had stretched her elegant neck upward so that her head hovered just above Drake’s.

“A true loss for the musical world, but a gain for Draconia, I’m sure,” Lera commented, seeming to regain her balance and better hide her surprise. Hugh marveled at her political skill. This woman he’d found was more adept at statecraft than he’d ever been.

“Please allow me to introduce my partner, the Lady Jenet,” Drake added politely. The dragon nodded respectfully at Lera.

“I am charmed to meet you, Lady Jenet. Your scales glisten with the colors of flame, which is something you will learn is quite significant in this land. You are most welcome.”

Again the dragon nodded, then pulled her head back, retreating from the immediate party. Drake turned to the fair folk male at his side.

“And may I present Liam Eliadnae of the fair folk from Gryphon Isle and Reliendor, First Wing Leader of the Gryphon Isle flock.”

“I know our gryphons will have many questions for you both. I have heard only legends of your island,” Lera surprised Hugh by saying. “And I have never met one of the fair folk before. I will enjoy speaking with you both and learning of your land and people. Be welcome in Alagarithia.”

“Thank you, milady.” The man’s voice was almost musical, in the way of his people. He had pale blond hair cut short in a warrior’s style, but his clothing was that of a diplomat. Rich embroidery and fine fabrics marked his status.

“It iss my honor to meet you, milady,” the gryphon answered. Though initial meetings with gryphons could be tricky, this one was more diplomatic than others Hugh had observed.

“The honor is mine, sir,” she replied politely, returning his small nod of acknowledgment. “While I am the Doge of Helios, we are currently within the temple grounds of the Order of Light,” Lera said tactfully, gesturing to the High Priest at her side. “This is Father Gregor, High Priest of the Order. Father, this is Drake of the Five Lands, the famous Jinn bard. He has entertained in my court, and I know him to be a good and talented man with a kind heart and a glib tongue.”