Damien and Seraphina sat aboard the Prince’s private jet awaiting take off. The Prince’s mind whirled with thoughts. He knew a silent coup was in place, he’d rooted a few members of his own Faction out shortly after his father’s death. But what shocked him the most, was that half the Council of Elders was involved. 

His eyes went to Sera and he merely studied her as she rambled instructions into her cellphone. She’d momentarily fallen apart over the news of Jazz’s kidnapping, but with a strength he could only admire, she’d quickly pulled herself together and rallied the Water Elementals. Each branch was forming a search party and making preparations for war. Between the two of them, they’d managed to put a few puzzle pieces together from the note. 

Elder Coffer, along with five other Elders, felt that Dragon-kind needed new direction. They’d set their devious plans into motion many years ago and were now reaping the fruition of their labors. Damien scolded himself for not supporting his father with more conviction. He’d wasted so many years being angry with the late Prince for taking his mate from him, that he hadn’t noticed the betrayal directly beneath their noses.

Draken had warned him and his court. He’d spent the last years of his life fighting to keep their faction united. 

“You were right Father,” Damien murmured and crumpled the note in his fist. “I should have listened to you earlier. I shall not make the same mistake again.”

Sera snapped her little silver phone shut and glared up at him with a fire raging in her eyes. 

“You know what this means?” she asked forcefully. “The Four Factions are at war with the High Council. They also have to clean their own houses - so to speak - and root out all opposition. Coffer and his supporters have been working on this for centuries so there’s no way to know just who you can trust.”

Damien’s lips tightened in anger and he clenched his jaws. He had a Faction - a kingdom - to run and protect, but he also had a mate to find. It didn’t surprise him that her safety ranked higher than his own people, but it did. She was the fire raging in his blood and the water soothing his soul. She lived in the core of his being and there was no way in hell he’d let anything happen to her. He’d loved her for as long as he could remember and they’d spent enough time apart. It was time they began their life together and nothing - including a war between Dragon-kind - was going to stop them. 

“I still can’t believe Coffer managed to hide this from the rest of us for so long,” Sera ranted in disgust. “I can’t reach Elder Caroleena, so I don’t know of her involvement yet. So far, we only have that to go on.” She nodded her head at the now crumpled note. 

Damien eased his fist open and took the note, smoothing it so he could read it again although he knew the message by heart: 

“Elder Coffer wishes to convey his thanks to Elder Seraphina for her protection and tutelage of his intended mate, Jasmine Sandford. The time has come for the Chosen to take Dragon-kind’s reins and lead our people in our true direction. He also wishes to invite Elder Seraphina and her family to witness the mating ceremony between himself and his intended. However, the Council in its entirety is no longer required for this ritual.”

He crushed the note in his fisted hand yet again as fresh rage tore through his veins. He felt his dragon - barely restrained by sheer will - slithering beneath the surface. He couldn’t allow himself to shift, not on the jet. He calmed himself by promising to bathe in Coffer’s blood once Jazz was safely back in his arms. 

His rear pants pocket started vibrating furiously and he shifted to his hip in order to free his phone. Seeing a familiar name on the caller I.D., he hit the accept button and raised it to his ear. 

“Prince Axel,” he greeted the man on the other end. “To what do I owe the honor of your call?”

“I’ve just received Intel that Elder Coffer has kidnapped Jasmine Sandford, adopted daughter of Elder Seraphina,” his deep voice resonated over the tiny speaker. “I can’t seem to reach Elder Sera, so I called you. I’m available for any action you or Elder Sera wish to embark upon,” he stated matter-of-factly. 

Damien couldn’t help but wonder if mated life had changed the Air Elemental Prince. From his last few encounters with the man, he remembered more crude language and less formal behavior. And yet, he felt the sincerity of the other man’s offer and wondered what brought on such a willingness to help a foreign Faction. Up until now, there had been no public friction between the Factions. They simply co-existed in harmony; each one sticking to their own. 

Now, with the Elders divided, the four Factions couldn’t help but close their ranks for protection. Open trust no longer existed; everyone was a suspect.  

“May I ask why you are so willing to assist in an outer-Faction issue?” Damien responded as diplomatically as possible. Although, he felt Axel’s sincerity, he knew deceit was an act easily hidden. Before he put his mate’s life in anyone else’s hands, he wanted to make damn sure they were worthy of his trust. 

“Coffer had my mate kidnapped shortly before our ritual,” Axel responded simply and truthfully. “His goons tried to traumatize her and were she not the fiercely strong woman she is, they would have been successful.” He paused and Damien waited for the rest of the story. “She defended herself quite nicely before I managed to track them down and when I learned of Coffer’s involvement, I promised her I would make him pay. I keep my promises.” 

Damien nodded his head in complete understanding. He wanted to rip the Elder’s throat out with his bare, blunt, human teeth. 

“There’s more,” Axel admitted. “I believe there’s more at play here than a mere Elder going mad. I’ve had to squash several uprisings recently and even kill a few of my own Faction when they betrayed me. They’d joined Coffer and were working within the Faction to overthrow me. I think the Elder is planning a coup against the entirety of our leaders,” his voice trailed off. 

“I believe you’re right,” Damien admitted. “My own father severed an uprising about a century ago and struggled every day after to maintain control of our own ranks. It seems that many of Dragon-kind aren’t happy with the royal houses and wish to see a different governing body. I exiled a few dragons myself before flying out here to Jamaica,” Damien admitted and stopped short in hopes of Axel not hearing the last part. 

“What do you suggest we do?” Axel asked and Damien almost sighed in relief. He wasn’t ready for anyone to question him about Jazz just yet. He had to find her first. He had to first, make her understand and then, believe that he wanted no other. That he’d wanted no other since the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. He needed her to believe with every fiber of her being that she was “it” for him. There would never be another. 

After a few moments to contemplate the entire situation, Damien’s mind shifted from his personal feelings to politics. He couldn’t do anything for her right this very second, so the least he could do was try and make amends among the royalty. 

“I suggest you and I contact the other Princes and formulate a treaty between the Factions. If we can secure the thrones through solidarity, then that’s one step toward thwarting whatever Coffer has planned,” he proposed. 

“I like the way you think Damien,” Axel praised. “I’ll call Jaxen immediately. Do you have Wesley’s number?” he asked, referring to the Fire Prince. 

“Yes,” Damien confirmed and hit end on his phone screen. His thumb moved across the screen, hovering just over his contacts icon when a sudden, fierce pain ripped through his body. The phone tumbled from his hand and he clenched his stomach as he doubled over and vomited on the blue carpeted floor. 

A stewardess immediately rushed toward him, towel and bucket in hand. 

“My Prince, are you alright,” she asked breathlessly. “Should I tell the Captain to delay takeoff?”

“No!” he roared. “The sooner we get in the air, the better.” He took the bucket from her and asked for another once she’d mopped up the worst of his waste. Cradling the bucket, his head swiveled to where Sera sat, watching him intently. 

“You formed a connection with her, didn’t you?” The Elder asked and his eyes widened in surprise. His mind went back to their brief interlude by the pool. He had indeed bitten her and drank from her. Since she didn’t reciprocate, the mating bond wasn’t mutual, but by the small, passionate action, he had claimed her for his own. No other Dragon could take her without perishing in a most unpleasant death. 

He also knew that if he could pull on their connection strongly enough, he would be able to hear her thoughts and maybe determine her location. It would certainly be easier than flying all over the world looking for her. It would save time they didn’t have. 

“Didn’t you?” Sera repeated a bit more forcefully and slapped him across his already flushed face. He hadn’t seen her move, but he felt the ferocity of her anger. “You couldn’t wait for a proper ceremony, you had to rut with her like a wild beast? She deserves better than that you fool,” she accused and raised her hand to deliver another blow. 

Damien dropped bucket on the floor and rose to face the enraged woman. He caught her hand before she hit him again. As gently as he could manage with his stomach feeling like it was being ripped apart from the inside, he guided her back to her seat and shoved her back into it. 

Leaning forward, he pulled her seat-belt around her and buckled it before turning back to his own seat and repeating the action. 

She opened her mouth, no doubt to curse him, but stopped short when he whirled back to glare at her. 

“Not now Sera,” he warned forcefully. “I need to concentrate.” 

Her eyes widened owlishly when she realized his intent and clamped her lips together. 

“No, not right now,” she conceded reluctantly. “But you and I have much to discuss.”  

Damien smiled and nodded at his soon-to-be mother-in-law.

“Yes, yes, we do,” he agreed and closed his eyes in order to focus better. “Oh, by the way,” he added as an afterthought. “Axel is calling Jaxen and I need to speak with Wesley, do you think you can get him on the phone and explain the situation to him? I need to find Jazz while I can.”

“Of course,” Sera answered and motioned for the stewardess to hand over the Prince’s phone. “I’ll take care of it.”