Chapter 14
Verrian tossed and turned on the furs. Taurian had told him to have a nap, that even twenty minutes, while the clan prepared, would make him more alert and more able to help in the upcoming battle.
But though he was physically and mentally exhausted, he couldn’t sleep.
It felt wrong, that Lisa wasn’t here beside him.
He couldn’t help wondering if she was sleeping, somewhere in Ultrima’s lair. And that thought just made him anxious.
Inevitably, it led him to wonder if he would ever get a chance to sleep beside her again. And the thought that he might not was devastating.
He tried again to push all that from his mind. To get some rest, so that he could at least help her escape from Ultrima’s clutches. He’d almost done it, was just slipping into sleep, when a commotion in the main cave disturbed him.
He could hear shouting, some excited, some hostile.
Verrian jumped up and raced to where the tunnel joined the main cave.
All he could see, in the sea of dragons, was Lisa.
His heart beat rapidly in his chest, and his breath caught in his throat.
Her red curls bounced as she held up one hand, pointing to dragons with the other. Her face was determined, maybe even a little angry.
That’s when what she was saying broke through the confusion.
“You all need to stay back. She helped me. She’s going to help us mend this feud with Ultrima. Don’t you think we should at least give it a try?”
“Ultrima has done nothing but attack us,” Ostrian said loudly. “Why should we give anyone from his clan a chance?”
“He’s never going to change, not unless we let him have our princess, and we’re not going to do that,” someone else called out.
“You brought her here, it will be your fault if she kills us all.”
Verrian made himself tear his eyes away from Lisa, to see the woman standing beside her.
Tall and haughty, her white hair flowing down her back, there was no mistaking her.
Ultrima’s life dragon.
Indecision warred in Verrian’s heart. He’d made a deal not to see Lisa again. Already, just by standing here watching her, he’d broken that.
But this was about his clan. It was his responsibility to see that the best decision was made in this situation.
And he couldn’t do that without seeing Lisa.
His responsibility to his clan won out. Seeing Lisa as part of that role was inescapable. It couldn’t possibly count under the deal he’d made.
As a clan leader, Ultrima would understand that.
Verrian took a step closer.
“She isn’t here to kill us,” Lisa said firmly. “She has the same goal we have, to find out the truth. Did Sarian love Ultrima?”
That comment stopped Verrian in his tracks.
Did Sarian love Ultrima? What kind of a question was that? And why was Lisa even asking it?
Was the life dragon controlling her somehow? Putting words in her mouth?
But when he looked at Lisa, he recognised the familiar fire burning in her eyes. No one was controlling her. This was coming from her.
A spark of doubt flared in his mind. Was there any possibility his sister actually cared for Ultrima?
A hush fell over the whole room. Were they all thinking the same thing?
Everyone was staring at Lisa. Faces started to look angry.
For the first time, Verrian was a little worried about Lisa’s safety.
Even if she believed it, to say such a thing in the middle of the clan…
“Are you saying my brother was lying?” Taurian’s voice was dangerously low.
Karla’s hand touched his arm, and some of the anger drained away. “Hear her out,” she said gently. “Remember, Lisa has fought Ultrima too, and saved your life on one occasion.
Taurian’s expression was still tight, but he nodded. “Go on.”
Lisa looked at him, her expression sympathetic. “I didn’t want to believe it at first either. But what if it is true? I’ve seen you, Taurian, how you were willing to walk away from the love of your life because you thought it wasn’t the right decision for your clan.” Her eyes found Verrian, near the back of the crowd, and rested on him. “I’ve seen Verrian hold to a deal with his enemy, even though it could cost him love.” She turned back to Taurian. “Is it really so hard to believe that your sister could have rejected him out of responsibility to her clan, not because she didn’t love him?”
There was a silence in the room. Even Taurian looked shaken.
Then he straightened his shoulders. “No matter what my sister may have felt for him, and I’m not saying she did, mind you, it did not excuse what he tried to do.”
“What was that?” the life dragon asked softly. Despite the low tone, her words were unmistakable. Everyone stared at her.
“When my sister rejected him, Ultrima tried to force himself on her,” Taurian said flatly. “Or do you have an excuse for that too?”
“There are two sides to every story,” the life dragon said, her voice calm. “It is even possible for each side to firmly believe their own side, without it being the truth.”
“My brother knew what he saw,” Taurian said firmly.
The woman looked at him for a measured moment, then turned to Lisa. “It is pointless. They will never agree, which leaves us, as always, with no other choice.”
“No, wait…” Lisa said desperately. “I know we can make this work.”
She turned back to the crowd. To Taurian. “We all want this war to end, don’t we? This is our chance. All she wants to do is be present when we wake Sarian, and to ask her, once and for all, how she feels about Ultrima. What is the harm in that?”
“Don’t you see?” Taurian demanded. “She’s a life dragon. She can manipulate people. What’s to say she won’t just use her powers to make Sarian say whatever she wants? I’m sorry, Lisa, but I just can’t believe it. Nothing Ultrima has done since Sarian rejected him has made me feel sorry for him. He’s attacked us repeatedly, killed many of our clan. I cannot believe he is a suitable lifemate for my sister, no matter how he might feel about her.”
Lisa’s shoulders sagged.
Verrian felt her pain. For a moment there, he’d thought that maybe there was a chance. Maybe there was a way to end this feud.
Maybe there was a way to get rid of this deal with Ultrima, so he could be with his mate without feeling this overwhelming guilt he felt every time he was close to her.
Perhaps Ultrima felt the same.
Attacking his brother must have happened in anger. In that raw, desperate fear of losing the person you loved. When everything else felt numb.
Verrian knew what that felt like.
Then after that, every step the Trima leader had taken must have seemed small and insignificant.
For the first time, Verrian felt a flicker of sympathy for his enemy.
Was is possible that they were telling the truth?
Was it possible that this war had all been for nothing?
Verrian took another step closer. “I think we should listen to the woman,” he said, raising his voice.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
Taurian frowned. “What is your reasoning for that, brother?” His voice was tight, implying Verrian better have a very good reason.
Verrian was pretty sure he did.
“Love will do strange things to a person,” Verrian said, his eyes focusing on Lisa. “It can make you feel like giving up, or fighting everyone, both at the same time. It can make you want to throw away things you’ve always believed in, like keeping your word, and not breaking a deal.”
His eyes were on Lisa, and hers were locked to him. He took a few steps forwards, aching to be closer to her, even if they never touched.
“The humans have a saying,” he said. “All’s fair in love and war. I think Ultrima might live by it.” He gave Lisa a small smile, his heart aching for the fact that her eyes were filling with tears. His felt a little misty too.
He made himself turn to stare at his clan. “The trouble is, we feel love not just for our lifemates, but for our clan.” He looked at Taurian. “The love for our brothers and sisters is at war with the love for our lifemates. And it shouldn’t be.”
Even Taurian looked a little shaken. He’d experienced it too. Ultrima had given him an out, and he’d taken it with both hands. Verrian didn’t blame him. If anyone offered him one, he’d be doing the same.
But maybe he had to make his own.
“What do you propose we do?” Karla asked calmly, her hand on Taurian’s arm.
Taurian didn’t protest. In fact, he sighed heavily, and put his hand over Karla’s
Verrian looked at Lisa, then at the life dragon, then suddenly it all became clear.
The life dragon could see it in his eyes. “Ultrima wanted you to feel this pull,” she said, to him and him alone. “He wanted you to realise how difficult a decision it is, and how there is a mere hairs width between one choice and another.”
Verrian nodded. “I understand, and this is why I'm giving you a chance. But rest assured, this is the only chance you, or he, will ever get. If you double cross us, if you try to manipulate Princess Sarian, then I will personally see to it that your entire clan is wiped out.”
For the first time in his life, Verrian didn’t doubt his ability to do it.
When Lisa had been dying, he’d beaten the other dragon without a moment’s thought. He wasn’t even sure how he’d done it. But he was sure he could do it again if he had to.
The life dragon inclined her head. “It is not my intention to deceive you. I only want to know the truth.”
Verrian nodded. A smile twisted his lips. “I propose a deal then,” he said, his voice raised. “We will allow you to be present while we wake Sarian, and we will all ask her for the truth together, if you release me from my deal to Ultrima.”
It was a twisted deal. Technically, he should be making it with Ultrima, but the Trima leader wasn’t present to participate.
He was pretty sure he would agree though, if what the life dragon claimed was true. If Ultrima truly did believe in love, if he fought for love, then how could he not agree?
The life dragon nodded. “In my role as Ultrima’s second in command, I accept your deal in his absence. Be with your mate, and help me see that justice is done for your former clan brother.”
Verrian’s heart was singing now, the sound ringing in his ears. He wanted to rush to Lisa, and embrace her. He wanted to never let her go.
But he also wanted no lingering doubts. So he made himself wait, to look at Taurian.
He needed his brother’s agreement.
He wanted his brother’s blessing.
Taurian was smiling. “It appears you have done it,” he said to Verrian. “Congratulations, brother. Not only have you settled your own dilemma, but you may just have solved our clan’s as well.”
Taurian turned to the life dragon. “I will reserve judgement until I hear the words from my sister. But if what you say is true, then none of us will stand in her way.”
“That is all I ask,” the life dragon said calmly.
Verrian waited, but no one said anything more.
It was done.
He was free.
He stared at Lisa, letting the sight of her face fill his mind. She was his, finally.
He crossed the room, ignoring all the other dragons, and pulled her into his arms. “Princess Lisa, I love you with all my heart,” he said, not caring if the sound carried to all the other dragons.
The End
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If you haven't already, check out Karla and Taurian's story, beginning with Waking the Dragon.
When his centuries long slumber ends abruptly, dragon prince Taurian finds himself in a whole new world. Now, pursued by an ancient enemy, he finds his survival depends on the human woman whose presence woke him. Despite being irresistibly drawn to the half-naked man she discovered in an ancient chamber, Karla is sure he’s crazy. The sensible thing to do would be to drop him off at the nearest police station. But she soon finds out that dealing with dragons is never that simple.
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