Keeper of the Flame (37 page)

The fire engulfed Ylianthror, freezing him in place. This time, rather than just holding him, it burned. Not like fire normally burns, but in a way that only the magical flame of the Lady burns. Everywhere it touched Ylianthror, he began to sparkle, then to shimmer, then to…dissipate.

Lera felt the pull of the Lady’s magic out of her, into her mate. The way it twined and meshed with Hugh’s dragon fire was familiar but at the same time altogether new. It was like the way their magics joined when they were intimate, but this was so much…more.

More powerful. More magical.

More dangerous.

Ylianthror disappeared particle by particle, caught up in the sparkling magical smoke that rose where the eternal flame met his body.

The unearthly screech he made as he disintegrated echoed into the dawn.

Ylianthror was gone.

Lera had never seen the like.

Hugh shimmered and turned into his human form. He looked surprised—as if his transformation wasn’t voluntary.

“What just happened?” he asked, clearly stunned.

“I’m not sure.”

He stood still a moment more, then wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close. His chin rested on the top of her head protectively. She felt his love, his fear for her safety, his wonder at the power that had just coursed through him.

“Are you all right?” Hugh asked her as he rocked her slightly in his embrace.

“I’m fine. But are you? Hugh, I’ve never seen the flame act through another person like that. When the priests use it, it’s very different. It’s only an echo. What you just did…” She trailed off, at a loss for words.

“Yeah, that was pretty amazing, but no harm done to me. Ylianthror, on the other hand… He didn’t fare so well.” He drew back and looked at the place the gryphon had been. Not even a singed spot on the ground marked the place he had…burned, for lack of a better word. “I’m sorry I acted without consulting you, but it was in defense and I had no idea that was going to happen. I only meant to keep him away from you.”

“It’s all right. The flame worked through my link to you. It had already judged Ylianthror and found him guilty of the most heinous betrayal. I delayed because I didn’t want to be the instrument of his death. I’ve never had to do something like that before and I wasn’t looking forward to it, even after what he’d done.”

“Then perhaps this is the way it was meant to be.” He held her hand, squeezing it gently as they looked at each other.

The emissary interrupted their moment, padding up to them and fanning her wings. “You are correct, my prince. Valeria is the Keeper of the Flame. You are now the first and only Guardian of its true power.”

“What did it really do? Where did he go?” Lera asked, flummoxed by the way the flame had acted.

“There are many worlds and many dimensions unknown to us. But all is known to the Lady. Perhaps She sent him to another place and time where his desire for power in this realm could not harm anyone else. Or maybe She took him to abide with Her. It is not for us to know. It is for us to believe in Her wisdom and mercy. His blood is not on your hands—either of you. You were only the conduits through which the Lady’s justice was dispensed. As it should be. Do not let it burden your heart.”

“Thank you, emissary.” Lera spoke softly, truly touched by the gryphon’s words.

“If you would permit it, milady, I will assist in the clean-up here. I believe you and your mate should go back to the palace to recover from what has just transpired. Within an hour, you will both slumber and it will be some time before you wake. Neither of you are used to channeling that much magical energy. You’re running on adrenaline right now, but you should get to the safety of the palace as soon as possible.”

“We’ll take that advice,” Hugh answered for her, putting one arm around Lera’s shoulders. “And we thank you for your willingness to take over here. The dragons, knights and their lady will stay also. Jenet shouldn’t move much, but the others can help you. My brothers will come with us, just in case there are still enemies out there.”

“It is only right the rulers of Helios travel with an honor guard,” the emissary replied. “I only wish there were more of us to go with you.”

“Thank you, emissary, but we will be fine with my brothers,” Hugh replied politely.

Hugh didn’t waste much time. He signaled the twins silently and within moments he had changed back into a dragon and she was on his back. They lifted off in the pearly orange of sunrise and headed back toward Alagarithia.

Lera’s heart was both heavier and lighter. They’d found the traitors and dealt with them. While she was sad for the way the night had ended with injury, bloodshed and death, she was glad there was no longer any reason to believe assassins were on her trail. She was still in a position of power and there would always be danger, but professional assassins had ratcheted up her fear to the highest level.

Finally, she would be able to relax somewhat. Relax and enjoy time with her new mate.

After all, there was a state wedding to plan.

True to the emissary’s predictions, Lera and Hugh slept for the entire day and night following their return to the palace. The twins did not let anyone in to see them except Father Gregor, who pronounced them healthy—just completely exhausted—after a quick examination.

The dragons and knights stayed at Portu’s estate with the prisoners. Xerata could not be moved, but would survive. She was in worse shape than the dragoness, Jenet, and would require several weeks—perhaps months—of healing before she would fly again. By contrast, with her knight’s help, the Lady Jenet would be able to fly within a few days.

The warrior priests who had paired with gryphons stayed at Portu’s also to act as guards. The emissary had questioned each and every one of Portu’s people and found a few sympathizers she judged to be dangerous to the harmony of Helios. The manor house had been partitioned so that a few windowless rooms were used to hold prisoners and the others housed the warrior priests and the knights and their lady.

Those servants who had no knowledge of Portu’s treachery were allowed to stay on, if they wished, to serve those who used the house and stables. The temple gryphons had made nests for themselves in the disused barn and had helped Nellin make a place for himself and his mate, poor, injured Jenet. The dragons and gryphons were working together quite well, from all accounts, as Lera was pleased to learn when she finally woke up and was able to read the reports being sent back three times a day.

Much to her disappointment, when she and Hugh had finally woken a full day later, she was not allowed to laze in bed with her new mate. No, there had been a full schedule waiting for her of things that absolutely could not wait. Hugh too, had been occupied from almost the moment they woke until dinnertime.

Reliendor, the gryphon from Gryffid’s court, had needed to see Lera to obtain a formal reply to his message. He’d flown off as soon as he got it, leaving the fair folk ambassador, Liam, as the beginning of a delegation from Gryffid to Helios. Lera had spoken briefly with Liam and thanked him for assisting in the search for Sendra. She’d been surprised to find that Liam and one of the temple elders had struck up a friendship and were teaching each other different ways to access and use magic.

Then there was the matter of the prisoners to deal with. There were a few here in Alagarithia proper and even more on the outskirts of the city, at Portu’s estate. The manor house and farmland was forfeit to the crown for Portu’s treason. He didn’t have much family and those few who had been living with him were now imprisoned in their former home, having been found guilty by the emissary of aiding in the treason by the emissary.

The temple petitioned and was granted the buildings and grounds as a training facility and possible housing for the newly formed partnerships between priests and gryphons. The emissary had suggested it and after some consideration, Lera saw the benefits of the scheme. The peasants who lived on the land would continue to farm it, only instead of coming under the jurisdiction of a minor nobleman, they would now turn to Father Gregor and the elders put in charge of the estate.

Lera also had to draft formal documents to send back to Draconia with the twins, whenever they decided to leave. She also wanted to include a more personal, informal letter of greeting between herself and her new extended family, explaining a bit about what had happened and how Hugh had helped. She also wanted to explain privately—outside the diplomatic documents—that Helios could be depended on as a steadfast ally now that the traitors had been dealt with.

Hugh had helped her all through the day. He’d had to write a few letters back home as well, so they did that together. But he’d been out around the palace as well, seeing to the Guard and making changes in her security. He’d trained with the Guard that morning and used the time to not only exercise, but also to evaluate those men he’d been able to observe and spar with.

Hugh was in his element and Lera was only too glad to let him do as he willed where the warriors were concerned. Over time, she hoped, they would find things he was suited to more than she, and they would divide up their tasks and areas of responsibility, sharing the burden of rule between them. Theirs would be a true partnership.

Lera had a million other items on her daily agenda that had piled up while she’d been away, fighting for her life with Hugh. She tried to get through as much as possible with her private secretary’s help. She was a conscientious leader and didn’t like making her people wait on decisions that could be made quickly. She listened to as many of the petitions as she could, but eventually, she had to give up and leave the rest for later. There was much too much to do all in one day.

It was only later, after Lera and Hugh had fled the public areas of the palace and locked themselves into Lera’s bedroom that they finally had some alone time where both of them were conscious and had the energy to play.

“Should I even ask how your day was, my love?” Hugh asked as they ate a private meal together in her chambers.

“You saw most of it. It was every bit as difficult as I supposed it would be. It’s always hard for me to take time off, even when I prepare for it. This time, there was no preparation, no clearing of my schedule. As a result, everything just piled up and it will take some time to untangle the confusion and get back on track.” She speared a green bean with her fork. “But you were a great help to me today, Hugh. Thank you for that.”

“Anything I can do, I will.”

“I know.” She paused a moment to smile at him. “And I love you for it.”

“Just for that?” he prompted, making her smile turn playful.

“For that and for a few other things.”

“Maybe one thing in particular?” He waggled his eyebrows as he coaxed her over to sit on his lap. He fed her the last of her meal—a few final string beans, which were to be followed by a chocolate custard.

When she would have reached for the custard dish, he pushed it just out of her reach.

“Not fair. That’s the best part of the meal.” She pouted playfully.

“I know how to make it even better.”

“Oh, really?” she challenged.

“Most definitely, milady. If you’ll carry the dish, I propose we adjourn to the bedroom for desert.”

He stood, holding her in his arms. He dipped her close enough to the table that she could grab the two dishes containing chocolate custard. Each had a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream on top. She was also able to snag a single spoon before he lifted her up again and whisked her into the bedchamber.

Once there, he lowered her to her feet next to the bed and took the two dishes and spoon from her hands, placing them on the night table next to the bed. Hugh moved close and lowered his mouth to hers, seducing her with his expert kisses while he undressed her.

Lera worked on the fastenings of his clothing as well, but she was much less proficient than he was. She managed to get him bare from the waist up in the same amount of time it took him to strip her naked. She figured he deserved some sort of reward for his ingenuity, and she had the perfect thing in mind.

Lera’s fingers went to the fastening of his leather pants and unbuttoned the fly, pushing them down around his thighs, freeing his hard cock. She moved back to admire him for a moment, reaching out to snag some of the whipped cream off one of the custard dishes on her finger.

She brought it back, stroking the fluffy white concoction over his rigid length, smearing him liberally with the sticky cream. She held his gaze, gratified when she saw his eyes flare with excitement as she dropped to sit on the edge of the bed. It put her at the perfect height to lick him clean.

Lera leaned forward, taking her time, teasing him with light strokes of her tongue. She watched his face from under her lashes, knowing from prior experience how he liked to be touched. She had learned her lesson well over their relatively short time together and knew how to please him. She employed all her knowledge to bring him to the edge of pleasure, taking him deep into her mouth and making sure all of the whipped cream was cleaned off by her efficient tongue.

“Damn, sweetheart. Any more of that and the party will be over before it even started.”

Hugh pushed her away gently, using a little more force to lay her back on the bed. He lifted her and positioned her in the center of the big four-poster bed. Only then did she notice the cords tied to each of the posts. He must have put them there sometime before dinner.