SkyFall (Taken on the Wing Book 2) (57 page)

Torch catches Tempest
’
s eye as they move out of the way. The excited
young gold will finally meet the gryphons she
’
s heard so much about. They settle to
Tempest
’
s left as the delegation
enters, Sire Lev in the lead. Talon stands at Lev
’
s right shoulder, in Soar
’
s normal position and opposite Firn at
Lev
’
s left. Talon should be with
Shadow since she
’
s so near the end of her
pregnancy but Flay stands behind him, his quick portal home. Six others
including Hunter and Daniel Cooper, Fire, Agony, and Con round out the group.
Agony stations herself next to Hunter and he can
’
t conceal his displeasure.

Lev approaches Tempest while the
remainder stop and kneel only half-way across the room. Protocol, as explained
to Tempest, dictates Lev will offer respect on behalf of the entire group. They
are all still armed, something Aledaar never would have allowed, but Tempest
would never dream of disarming her brave visitors. Seeing Lev on his knees
before her will be strange enough.

“
My Generous Lady Tempest,
”
Lev
’
s pride washes away any thought this
would be awkward. Then his wrists come up and he bows, pressing his head
between his elbows.

Tempest leans forward and touches her
forehead to Lev
’
s wrists, the closest thing to
a hug she
’
s permitted to give her
grand-sire, considering the circumstances. She hasn
’
t seen any of them in two months. If any
moment could cause tears of happiness it
’
s
this one but she takes a deep breath and with an oof, straightens up.

“
Sire
Lev, I
’
ve missed you all so much.
”

Lev stands, with much more grace than
Tempest.

The heck with protocol.

Tempest staggers into Lev
’
s arms before hugging Talon and Flay.

“
I would meet with you alone, Sire Lev,
”
she says then turns to the delegation.
“
Torch will make sure you receive my
hospitality in the main chamber.
”

Lev assesses her until they are left
alone.

“
You have made me proud, Tempest,
”
he smiles. His mouth broadens, wrapping
his brilliant blue eyes in crinkles.
“
But I must ask why you have
summoned me all this way. Perhaps just to fill me in on politics?
”

“
Well,
”
she starts and pushes
her hair behind her ears. Lev mirrors the movements so smoothly he might not
even know he
’
s done it.
“
The relics are safe and out of my hands
for which I
’
m relieved. Sire Sher of
Jasper has agreed to step down. Although he didn
’
t help Aledaar and Torrent with their
crimes he was complicit. I am certain Dame Arden didn
’
t know of Aledaar
’
s terrible manipulation of the gold
dragonkin. She and Tawny raised me to keep my dragonkin blood secret even from
myself. They knew of Sher
’
s prejudice and guessed what I
was. She protected me, Tawny too.

“
Daniel Cooper
’
s sibling has been released
from exile, as has Daniel. She sought sanctuary in Ochre
’
s Honour and lived there with her
dragonkin mate,
”
she sighs and rubs at her
scarred side, exhausted with more than just the pregnancy. Two months of
settling disputes and seeking replacements for the Council members who had been
loyal to Aledaar has pushed her to the limit.

“
She is mated to Lord Somebody or Other,
”
she yawns, sure she knows the name but
for the moment it escapes her.
“
Her young assisted us in the
assault on Aledaar. She has accepted the natural course of things and will
become Dame in Jasper with her mate at her side. Ironic though, after so many
generations of hate for the dragonkin one will serve as Sire.

“
Lord Fury, has returned to Skyfall. It
will take a long time to rebuild. He has been invited to the Council and has
accepted. Conflagration has been chosen as Skyfall
’
s Emissary to the Council and Lady Flay
is Ochre
’
s Honour
’
s Emissary. She and Lady Spite will serve
as my midwives when the time comes.
”

“
And what of you, Tempest?
”
Lev
asks.
“
Soar serves in Jasper and you
here. I suppose neither of you will have much trouble dividing your duties to
allow time together.
”

“
To that question, Sire Lev, there may be
a much simpler solution.
”

Lev raises an eyebrow and Tempest leans
closer.

“
What
’
s going on in there, buddy?
”
Talon asks, his voice modulated so it
only reaches Soar
’
s ears.

“
Council business,
”
Soar shrugs. He knows damn well and what
the implications will be for Talon should Lev agree to take over the Grand
Council. And for Soar as well. If Lev leaves his post as Sire to lead the
Council then his guard can choose to remain and serve Talon or accompany Lev to
Bolshevik Island. Talon would become Sire at Dame Shadow
’
s side.

A weak, cold breeze makes its way through
the chamber, stirring the heavy gold fabric draping down from the ceiling. The
silver wall lights don
’
t do much to brighten the
space so Tempest ordered small fires be lit around the room for the occasion.
The flames warm the space not only with their heat but they also give a healthy
glow to the drapes.

“
Help me out,
”
Hunter hisses. He
’
s on his third lap around the room in his
effort to avoid Agony
’
s attention. The mark of
Shadow
’
s guard is still somewhat
fresh on his upper left arm and the green dragonkin female finds it
fascinating. Soar laughs. He doesn
’
t really understand her
interest with the soot blackened brand. Agony
’
s never ending questions about gryphons
and the outside world in general remind him very much of the naive, young
female Talon and Shadow brought home more than a decade earlier. The same
female who now carries Soar
’
s young and sits, hopefully
for not much longer, at the head of the Grand Council.

“
But she
’
s adorable,
”
Soar
protests.

“
Bastard,
”
Hunter mutters and moves on to a position
behind the heavy drape next to Flay. The green dragonkin looks as amused as
Soar feels and widens her wings to provide him some extra cover.

“
Maybe I should tell him?
”
Soar says.

“
About what?
”
Talon
pulls out his phone again and sighs at the blank screen.

“
A female dragonkin will only ever sleep
with one male, her choice, and they are mated for life. A gryphon exchange is
just a bonus if he
’
s not dragonkin. She
’
ll use her persuasion if that
’
s what it takes to land him.
”

“
Then there
’
s nothing he can do even if you tell him?
”

“
Nope.
”

Talon
’
s booming laugh tapers off as Tempest and
Lev emerge from her chamber to stand at the top of the small rise at the
opening. Heavy red and gold drapes frame them in the same fabric of the Council
member
’
s robes and the other gold
drapes adorning the rest of the room. Lev holds one of her hands, her other
clutches her robes to keep them from underfoot in spite of the fact her stomach
lifts them off the ground.

It
’
s
endearing how she manages to turn leading the Council into something very
…
Cloud.

“
My friends,
”
she
says clearly as the talking and shuffling cease. Lev
’
s gaze turns to Talon and Soar.
“
Loyal members of the Council, my kin and
my beloved family. Our friend, Sire Lev, wishes to speak.
”

Lev tilts his head to Tempest before
addressing the assembled dragonkin and gryphons. From the corner of his eye,
Soar spots Hunter peeking out from behind a curtain then has to stifle a laugh
as Agony appears and glues herself to Hunter
’
s side.

“
My Generous Lady Tempest,
”
Lev starts. His eyes seek Firn and he
takes a moment to make sure he has her attention before he begins.

I
’
ll
be damned. He took Tempest
’
s seat as head of the Grand
Council.

Lev is younger than anyone ever chosen,
with the exception of Tempest
’
s temporary appointment, and
at an age when many gryphons first find themselves as Sire or Dame, much less
representing the body ruling the world
’
s
gryphons.

“
My friends, months ago I learned my
daughter, Dame Shadow and her mate, Master Talon, had conceived. I have served
my eyrie for many years and planned to cede my service as Sire to Master Talon
upon the birth of his young.
”

Talon makes a small choking sound and
Soar gently takes his friends elbow to steady him. Then he grabs Talon
’
s phone before it can slide from his
fingers and fall to the stone floor.

“
Before you all, I am pleased to share
that I am stepping down as Sire of the Vancouver Island Eyrie. A young gryphon
I have come to love as my own son, will take my place and continue to serve my
home at my daughter
’
s side.
”

“
Easy, buddy,
”
Soar whispers, his voice concealed by the
applause that follows. Talon nods, a rough bob of his head, then locks his
knees. To make sure Talon doesn
’
t go over, Soar gets a second
hand around his elbow.

Tempest takes a step forward to hold Lev
’
s hand. He finally takes his eyes from
Firn who smiles her approval, then he turns to Talon. By raising his fingers
like he
’
s tipping Talon
’
s chin up, he tells the future Sire to
hold his head high with pride.

“
My friends,
”
Tempest
speaks again.
“
As you are aware I came to
lead the Council through an old law. I claimed leadership from Aledaar through
justified punishment for his crimes against the dragonkin. My actions have not
only put our respected Council in turmoil but have brought much change to the
great eyries of the gryphons and cities of the dragonkin.