SkyFall (Taken on the Wing Book 2) (40 page)

“
Lady Tempest, Soar
’
s female, you know her as Cloud. I am
certain she has no objection if I speak for her.

“
She understands why Soar had her
expelled. She is proud for her part in what came next. As he said, she is
pregnant and that is the only thing that prevented her from becoming Aledaar
’
s servant. My sire told you last night
she is free and the only one who can kill Aledaar and free her kin.

“
Lady Tempest is the daughter of Lord
Fury, Master of the Council
’
s Will and the sibling of my
mate, Conflagration. She is my beloved kin.
”

Tempest raises her chin, bumping Soar
with her nose. This close, her auburn lashes catch the light.

His hold around her tightens as he works
the back of her neck with his hand to relax her.

“
Sire
Lev,
”
Tempest gasps. Damned if a little
affection hasn
’
t given her back her words.
“
Please don
’
t be angry with my Soar. If he hadn
’
t done everything to make my mission to Calgary a success he would not deserve to be the master of your guard. We have made
friends and uncovered the truth about Aledaar and the gold dragonkin.

“
We have hope.
”

She turns, a little clumsily, and Soar
keeps his hand on her neck.

“
The healer in Skyfall told me of Aledaar
and the relic. She said there would be pain and there was. I went before
Aledaar thinking no further ahead than getting through it, hiding my pregnancy
and coming home.

“
It took five days for him to break me.
”

“
Damn it,
”
Soar mutters. The
torture of the relic caused the bruising around her eyes and the burns. There
was no bullshit relapse.

“
Soar waited for me. I was cruel and sent
him away because they would have killed him. Yesterday Lady Flay learned my
secret and we freed her sire and came here.
”

“
Wait, my friend,
”
Lev says to Cooper then rubs his eyes.
“
First thing is first.

“
Master Talon, Hunter spent two months on
his hands and knees apologizing for his part in Soar
’
s plan. Contact Master Sky and have him
sent here so the loyal young gryphon might be considered for Dame Shadow
’
s guard.
”

“
Sire,
”
Talon grumbles. He still looks pissed at
Soar.

“
Second,
”
Lev continues.
“
We will arrange a family den for Master
Soar and Lady Tempest.

“
Third, Lady Flay, should I ever do
something so stupid as to go after a female dragonkin
’
s mate you have my permission to knock me
flat in order to stop me.
”

“
Sire,
”
Flay
nods.

Sire Lev rubs at his cheek. Soar knows
the big, blonde gryphon is putting together all the pieces. Every bit of
information he
’
s heard since Tempest arrived
the night before is sorted. There will be no indecision.

“
Fourth?
”
Shadow
says.
“
Lady Flay said Cloud, um,
Tempest has a dragon.
”

“
She did,
”
Lev
looks at the ceiling. So does Talon. Both know what she wants, as does Soar,
and he
’
s nervous about it too. Shadow
has held her curiosity back and can
’
t
wait any longer.

“
I would very much like to see it.
”

No,
Tempest shakes her head and Flay nods in
agreement.

“
Dame
Shadow,
”
Flay explains.
“
Tempest and her dragon are still getting
to know each other. It takes years for a dragonkin and her dragon to learn to
trust and respect each other.
”

“
Awe,
”
Shadow sighs, unable to hide her
disappointment.

“
I know my dragon well,
”
Flay adds.
“
She
is very sweet and good tempered. She is not bothered by a room full of
strangers and would be honoured to meet you.
”

“
Yes?
”
Shadow asks Talon but even as she gets
more excited she steps behind his wing in case Flay spits fire again.

“
Sire,
”
Cooper speaks.
“
My daughter would not offer unless Dame
Shadow will be as safe with her dragon as she is with her.
”

Flay gets a hand on Cooper
’
s shoulder and kicks her boots off.

“
I have seen her dragon fight, Sire,
”
Cooper says.
“
I know what she is capable of when
threatened. There is no danger here.
”

“
Yes,
”
Lev sighs. Soar suspects there is more to
this demonstration than simply pleasing Shadow.

Flay
’
s leather chest piece drops to the floor
with her boots then her trousers. The strips of soft green scales that run down
her neck hug the outer curve of her breasts before fading just past her navel.
She kneels and places her hands on the ground. Beneath her lengthening wings,
her back broadens as she begins to shift.

“
Oh,
”
Shadow exclaims. The circle around Flay
feels very small and everyone takes a few steps away to give her space. Where
Tempest
’
s claws were a deep brown,
Flay
’
s are a brilliant dark green.
Her scales thicken, spread down her limbs and cover her snout and with a snort,
Flay bows.

It is a much more peaceful scene than
Tempest
’
s attack on Fury.

“
Talon?
”
Shadow peers around him.

“
Come,
”
Cooper holds a hand to Shadow and kneels
beside Flay
’
s heavy head. Flay lowers the
lids that cover her gold eyes, the only part of her body that isn
’
t green.
“
I
will introduce you.
”

Shadow steps around Talon. He stays near
and neither Flay nor Cooper seem bothered by his protective presence. Trust
must learn to go both ways.

 Tempest radiates her trust for Soar. He
hopes he
’
s worthy and that she feels
his trust in her.

Cooper supports Shadow as she gets to the
floor.

“
Here,
”
he says as he places her palm on Flay
’
s nose.
“
Don
’
t move your hand. Dragon scales are so
rough you could scrape your skin off.
”

“
Okay,
”
Shadow
swallows.
“
She is so warm.
”

“
Yes.
”

Flay raises her head and turns to Cooper
before returning her gaze to Shadow.

“
You have given us sanctuary, Dame Shadow,
”
Cooper says.
“
Welcomed us to your home and even though
you know what we are and the danger we bring, you welcomed us as your friends.
Lady Flay would like to share her scent with you so all green dragonkin know
your kindness. This dragon is very fond of you.
”

“
Really?
”
Shadow
lightens her touch and strokes Flay in spite of Cooper
’
s warning. Her fingertips rasp gently on
her scales.
“
Your daughter is so beautiful.
I don
’
t understand how anyone could
fail the dragonkin.

“
I
’
m ashamed, Sire, that one greedy gryphon
could bring so much pain. Lady Flay, you are always welcome here. You need only
arrive and you will be shown comfort and friendship.
”

“
Yes,
”
Lev agrees.

Flay raises her head and rests her cheek
against Shadow
’
s large belly then a single
tear runs from her eye. She moves just enough to scuff Shadow
’
s wet skin.

“
Oh!
”
Shadow exclaims.

“
You
felt a spark?
”
Cooper asks.

Shadow nods and holds Flay
’
s head close.

“
She will protect you with her life, Dame
Shadow. It is a very rare gift.
”

Daniel Cooper leaves Flay content in Dame
Shadow
’
s arms. He
’
s spent too much time on his knees in the
Grand Council
’
s dungeons to remain on the
ground. A long soak in the warm eyrie baths followed by a shave and fresh
clothing eased the chill and pain of captivity. It also gave him respite from
Firn who, while a good healer, was vocal in her disgust that Torrent had kept
his arm broken.

“
Sire
Lev,
”
he says.
“
As I stated yesterday there is a
complication to retrieving the green relic and I wanted Lady Tempest with us
before I explained.
”

“
There
’
s another relic?
”
Tempest
asks.

When she arrived in Calgary she seemed
lost and incomplete. Even the day before when they stole from Bolshevik Island there was something missing from her as if he were watching a partial
reflection. Today, in Soar
’
s arms, she is whole and
content. The pair comfort each other in a way that fills Cooper with memories
of his Lady Eve.

“
Indeed. What do you remember about the
night of the tornado?
”

Tempest looks at Soar with a measurable
amount of discomfort.

“
We talked, I remember, and you asked me
to stay with you,
”
her fingers brush her lip and
Soar lets out a soft growl.

Then he turns his chilly stare on Cooper.

“
But your phone rang and I overheard you
caught Soar snooping so I found him. I dealt with his guards and we escaped
from the roof.
”

“
That memory isn
’
t accurate, Tempest,
”
Cooper explains.
“
When I am near the green relic I have the
will of a dragonkin. The relic is in my trust and I would never use it to bind
a dragonkin
’
s will to mine as Aledaar has
but my prolonged nearness to it has given me some dragonkin gifts.

“
That night, I used the relic to replace
your memories so you wouldn
’
t remember what I really did.
”