Chapter 8
Lyrian swallowed. She thought she’d been prepared for her sister’s words. Would even have said she had expected them. But the way her stomach dropped when her sister was so vehement in her hatred for Ultrima indicated otherwise.
Deep down, she’d begun to believe Latrima’s words. Believe that her sister did feel something for the former Rian dragon. They’d made a kind of sense that this war within her clan never had.
And with one sentence, Sarian threw away any chance they had at a truce with Trima clan and threw them back into chaos. She glanced over at Taurian, watching from behind Latrima, and met his eyes. They showed as much concern as she felt.
Latrima was similarly concerned. She frowned, her lips a thin line, and Sarian stared from the life dragon, to her sister.
“What is going on?” Sarian demanded. “Who is that dragon and what is she doing here?”
It was time for the explanations, now that they wouldn’t affect her sister’s answer. “This is Latrima, a life dragon from the Trima clan. She agreed to let us wake you, so long as she could be present and hear your answer to my question from your own lips.”
Sarian’s frown didn’t lift. Nor did Latrima’s. The two dragons glared at each other for several minutes.
“Since when did Trima clan have a life dragon?” Sarian demanded into Lyrian’s mind. Lyrian felt the echo of her question in their brother’s mind.
Her sister’s voice was weak, her magic still drained from the long Mesmer sleep. Lyrian needed to get her some privacy, so she could complete the ritual and regain her full strength. They were going to need it.
They were going to need all the help they could get.
But she wasn’t sure how she was going to convince the Trima life dragon to leave and give her sister that time. She wasn’t sure how Latrima was going to react to this at all. Thus far, she hadn’t attacked, but Lyrian didn’t trust that she wouldn’t yet.
Despite that, she couldn’t help feeling some sympathy for Latrima. The Trima life dragon had pinned everything on the belief that Sarian and Ultrima were in love. She’d broken Ultrima’s deals, and even offered Rian clan a peace treaty without any backing from her leader, all because she thought he was going to be happy when Sarian declared her love.
Now she was going to have to explain all that to her leader when he returned.
Lyrian winced. That would not be fun at all.
None of that showed on Latrima’s face though, it was impassive and emotionless.
Taurian’s voice echoed in Lyrian’s mind as he responded to their sister’s question. “It’s a long story sister, but the truth is, you’ve been asleep for three hundred years. A lot has changed in that time.”
Sarian’s eyes widened slightly. “Three hundred years? And Ultrima is still alive?”
Lyrian had been surprised that their enemy had survived all that time too. “I have no idea how, but I can assure you, he’s quite alive. And been harassing our clan, preventing them from waking us, all this time.”
“Where is he now?” Sarian asked sharply.
“He’s not here, you’re quite safe,” Taurian assured her. “He let himself be arrested by police.”
Taurian’s voice was reassuring. He clearly believed their sister’s assertion without question.
Lyrian wasn’t so sure.
Sarian’s nose wrinkled at the unfamiliar word, but she got the gist of its meaning from Taurian’s mind with her words. “We don’t have a lot of time then,” Sarian said. “We have to get out of here and back to the lair.” She stared at Latrima. “How do we get rid of her?”
Lyrian was wondering the same thing. There would have to be a discussion of some sort, of that she was sure. But so far, Latrima hadn’t said anything. She’d been unusually quiet, watching the two princesses, her lips thin.
She had to know the Rian dragons were conversing, and guess she was the topic of discussion. Maybe she was hoping Sarian would change her mind after talking to her sister. Maybe she hoped Sarian would admit something to Lyrian that she wouldn’t say out loud.
Either way, Lyrian looking at her indicated their conversation was over.
“Are you sure that is your final answer, Princess Sarian?” Latrima asked.
Sarian’s eyebrow shot up. “Are you asking me if I’m sure I hate your leader?” Her lips twisted in a sneer. She grasped hold of Raven’s hand and used it to help lever herself into a sitting position. She hadn’t quite gained enough energy to stand, but it wouldn’t take long. She kept hold of his hand, using the connection to help replenish her.
“Let me explain something to you,” Sarian said, her voice quiet. “Your leader attacked my people. He injured me, and my brothers and sisters, and killed many of our clan. He has kept us trapped in the Mesmer sleep for three hundred years. And you think there is some chance I feel something for him? I don’t know about Trima clan, but in Rian clan, we don’t attack the family of those we love.”
“Did you feel something for him, before all this started?” Latrima persisted, her voice quiet. “Is it possible that Ultrima attacked your clan because you betrayed his love?”
Sarian didn’t answer immediately, and when she didn’t speak, Taurian broke the silence. “Are you questioning my sister’s answers? Suggesting that she might be lying?” he demanded. His hands clenched into fists.
Lyrian glanced at her sister, catching a flash of pain on her face.
It was gone in an instant, to be replaced by a steely determination. “I cannot betray something that never existed. Ultrima may think he feels love for me, but his actions clearly demonstrate otherwise. He shows nothing but lust and a need for power. Not qualities I admire in a dragon, or ever have.”
Her sister lifted her head regally and stepped down off the platform, only her firm grip on Raven’s arm showing how much effort the movement cost her.
“Now if you’re quite finished your questioning, I’d suggest you leave, before I have reason to make you.” Sarian stared at Latrima, unfazed by the life dragon’s power. If Lyrian didn’t know she’d just woken from the Mesmer and hadn’t had a chance to finish the ritual, she never would have doubted that she could carry out her threat.
But she had…
And Latrima knew it as well as she did. The fight would still be two against one, but that might not be enough against a life dragon.
Lyrian watched Latrima closely, looking for any sign that might indicate she was about to attack. Taurian stood behind her, his eyes on their enemy. Dragon claws slipped out of the end of his human fingers. He was poised to attack. If necessary.
Truthfully, Lyrian would prefer not to fight her. The Trima dragon might be their enemy, but so far she’d shown a reason and sense that Lyrian respected. She would not like to have to hurt her.
Latrima showed no intention of attacking them. She was still looking at Sarian, as though she itched to ask her about her feelings again.
Somehow, Lyrian was pretty sure that wouldn’t go well, so she stepped in.
“You have been present at Princess Sarian’s waking, as we agreed, and heard her answer,” she said firmly. “It may not be what you want to hear, but that is not your choice. It is my sister’s. And she’s made it quite clear that she is not interested in mating with Ultrima.”
Latrima’s mouth twisted. “I am not convinced it is the truth, but that is of no consequence. Being present when Princess Sarian woke was only part of the deal. Lisa and I also agreed that Ultrima would get a chance to talk to her.”
Lyrian hadn’t heard that part of the deal. She glanced over at Taurian, one eyebrow raised.
Her brother frowned. “Even if that is so, Lisa could not make an agreement based on what my sister does. If she has no wish to see Ultrima, then she has no need to. Not that it matters right now, Ultrima is at the police station, not here.”
“It was also part of the agreement that Princess Sarian not mate with the man who woke her,” Latrima said quickly.
Lyrian stared at Latrima. If this were true, she needed to give Lisa a stern talking to. Who did she think she was, making these sorts of agreements without talking to the rest of the clan? To Sarian?
“So you’re telling me that you and Lisa, whoever she is, made decisions about who I would and wouldn’t sleep with in my absence? And you think I should acquiesce to them?” Sarian demanded.
Latrima didn’t quail, exactly, but she did glance down at the floor for a moment. “Of course not, Princess.” Her voice even sounded deferential. She lifted her head, staring at Sarian, her expression indicating that she was warring with something inside herself.
“I have no wish to make demands on you,” she said quickly. “I only wished to be able to offer you a choice. A chance to choose love, if you so wished.”
Sarian stared at her for a moment, and then her expression softened. Her voice was almost gentle as she said, “That is kind of you, child, but your concern is misplaced. I have never been coerced into any decision I did not wish to make.”
Latrima stared at her for a few moments, then nodded. “It appears we may have been lied to.”
Sarian nodded her head, as though to agree, then to Lyrian’s surprise, said softly, “Do not be too hard on your leader. It is not uncommon for dragons to believe so strongly in what they want to come to pass, that they overlook evidence to the contrary.”
“Yes, of course, Princess.” Latrima sounded contrite, maybe even a little miserable. A vivid contrast to her earlier certainty and arrogance.
Sarian paused for a moment and glanced at her brother and sister. Then turned back to Latrima. “If, given this new information, anyone in your clan wishes to change their allegiance, and return to Rian clan, they will be welcomed with open arms. No one will be punished for believing Ultrima’s lies.”
“Yes. Thank you. I will inform everyone,” Latrima said, her head bowed.
Then to Lyrian’s surprise, she walked back to the ledge, transformed into her dragon form, and flew away.
Lyrian heaved a sigh of relief. That had gone better than she could have possibly expected.