Chapter Twelve
D ear God, there was something about these donuts filled every emptiness in Azy's body and soul. But, only until she was done eating. She'd had a half a dozen of them at least already and she was still hungry. That's what came of only eating scraps for weeks on end, and apparently hanging out with a succubus who knew how to bake.
Cage had gone off to talk to some other dragon warriors who had come down to Africa to mount a rescue mission, including Ky Puru, who was definitely not dead.
He’d left her to eat with these women. They had filled her in on both of their matings and how Cage’s shard had ended up down in hell without him. They were well beyond introductions now and had moved on to serious girl talk.
Azy hadn't been entirely comfortable with their line of questioning, but Ciara had wrapped an arm around her and suddenly she had opened right up like they were all old friends.
“You only had sex with him once, just this morning?” Ciara blinked at her like that was completely outside the realm of possibilities.
“No. There wasn’t exactly a good time or place…in hell.”
Ciara shook her head. “I mean, I just can’t believe you were able to keep your hands to yourself around him. I wanted to jump Jakob’ s bones the second I met him. Although, we didn’t actually do anything until he marked me.”
“Same. I had my tongue down Ky’s throat about ten seconds after we met.” Jada waggled her eyebrows and bit into another donut. “Then there was that whole period where he pissed me off, and then we had lots of sex.”
Ciara nodded. “Oh, right. I think it’s obligatory for them to make us mad first. It’s like part of the ritual or something. Fleur got so irritated with Steele, that’s Jakob’s second, that she made him sleep in a cold bathtub.”
Jada laughed. “Ky would probably love that. Get him anywhere near water and he turns into a complete horndog. I can’t even do dishes at the shop without him trying to get in my pants.”
“Tell me about it. Our bedroom is practically its own state park.”
“So, their element gets them turned on?” Cage’s powers lay in the sun and sky. How was that going to work when she was not only a mermaid, but had a new found ability to ask the water to do what she wanted?
“Yeah. I imagine a gold dragon would make bed of clouds or something.”
Azy had better get over her fear of heights real fast. “Did either of you ever question whether this whole mating thing was real? If your mate was really the right one?”
She wanted to take the words back as soon as they were out of her mouth. What a stupid question. Of course not. Look at how happily in love and lust they both were with their dragons.
Ciara snort laughed. “Oh, god yes.”
What?
“Who has ever heard of a super hot, studly dragon shifter falling in love with a chubby wedding planner? I certainly hadn’t. At least you two knew dragons even existed. I was a plain old human who thought magic was only in the movies until recently.”
Jada poured them all more coffee. “I’m pretty sure I tried to talk Ky out of being anywhere near me. Demons don’t even mate.”
“But, the White Witch is like a Russian babushka when it comes to match making. You gotta do what she says and trust her.”
“Who’s that?”
“You know, the lady in white who gave you your necklace.”
Azy reached for where the shard used to hang around her neck and shook her head. She glanced over to the other women’s necks. They both wore shards. One green and one blue.
“You probably didn’t realize it was her. I got mine at a flea market. Fleur thought her mother left hers for her.” Ciara tapped her lips. “Let me think if I got a vision of yours. Part of my gifts makes me connected to the other mates. What did your necklace look like?”
Despite whatever calming magic Ciara was using, something uncomfortable formed in Azy’s throat. Like she’d swallowed too big a bite of donut, and it was lodged just above her esophagus. “I don’t have a necklace.”
Ciara exchanged a look with Jada that Azy didn’t miss for even a second. “Well, um. You probably didn’t need one because you already had Cage’s soul shard.”
“Yeah. That’s probably it.” Or she wasn’t Cage’s mate at all.
“So, tell us about the woman Jett brought up? Is she really the one who almost killed Match?” Ciara very adeptly changed the subject.
“Match is the Red Dragon Wyvern?”
The women nodded.
Ninsy, the gold toga wearing woman, had assured Azy that she would take care of Fallyn. That it was her duty.
“I couldn’t leave her down there, not after what I saw her father do to her.”
“I don't understand how the Black Dragon has a daughter.” Jada picked up another donut, covered in sprinkles and took a bite. “Or how he's kept her secret for so long. I thought Leon knew everything that went on in the demon world.”
Little snowflakes flurried in the air at the top of the tent. Ciara stood and paced back and forth. “Yeah, but he didn't seem to know what Portia was up to either.”
That statement seemed to make Jada sad. She flicked the sprinkles off of her doughnut. The snow over Ciara's head melted and raindrops smacked her in the face. She threw her hands up in the air and then wiped them away. “I'm sorry Jada. I know she is your half-sister. I just feel a little protective over Cage. He was the first dragon who was nice to me.”
That was interesting. Had anything gone on between Ciara and Cage?
She was certainly pretty enough. A blonde curvy bombshell much more suited to Cage’s movie star good looks.
Ciara turned suddenly and frowned at Azy. “You don't have anything to worry about with Cage and other women. Not that I would ever cheat on Jakob, but even if someone was looking, Cage is head over heels, or rather head over tail, in love with you.”
Okay. “I didn't say anything. Are you psychic?”
“No. I have the ability to sense emotions. Your jealousy and worry practically smacked me in the face.”
“I hate it when she does that.” Jada smiled at her.
“Sorry. I'm still kind of new to the whole white witch thing. I didn't even know dragons existed until Jakob kidnapped me.”
A cool breeze moved through the tent and a swirl of beautiful white light swished into the room and concentrated itself near the doughnuts. Azy blinked and then instead of light, a beautiful woman with long flowing hair almost as dark as hers and a white dress was sitting next to Jada. She picked up a doughnut and a cup of coffee floated into her hand. She dumped the doughnut as if she had been sitting with them the whole time.
“Well, Jakob was just following his instincts, and it was the fastest way to bring you two together.” She took a bite and coffee dribble down her ten. “Jada, these are divine.”
Neither of the other two women said anything, probably because there jaws were on the floor. Not literally, but almost.
It wasn't like Azy knew what to say to the apparition, so she waited for the women to get their senses back. Jada recovered first, but instead of saying anything she topped up the woman in White's cup of coffee.
Ciara finally found her voice. “Mrs. Bohacek?”
“Ciara, dear. I think you can call me Inanna now. The magic coming along?”
Ciara tipped her head and a little tray with sugar and creamer floated over to Inanna.
“Well done.” The woman took three cubes and plopped them into her mug. Then she turned to Jada. “Portia's fine. She's at the the seat of the gold wyr and giving her makes a helluva time.”
“Mates?”
Inanna did not reply to Jade's question and turned her attention to Azy. Her gaze was completely disconcerting as if she knew all of Azy's secrets. They stared at each other for longer than was comfortable, for Azy anyway. Inanna didn't seem bothered in the least. She sipped on her coffee and crossed her legs.
“Do we need to leave?” Jada asked.
Inanna set her coffee cup down and shook her head. “No, it's fine. You won't remember I was here anyway.”
“Damn.” Jada didn't actually seem to be that bothered by the news.
“I'm to try to,” Ciara said.
Inanna again didn't respond. “Azynsa, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“Why?” She didn't understand who or what this woman was, but she could feel the power emanating from her. All nonhumans had a magical aura and Azy had not understood what she was sensing when she was younger. She didn't understand until her father's death had left a dark place where his aura used to be.
“You get your strong sense of justice from him, little dragon daughter. I am glad he passed that on to you before he was killed.”
Azy had a million questions but couldn't get any of them out past the lump the size of Gibraltar in her throat. “How do you know about my father?”
“He is one of my sons, as you are one of my daughters.”
This was a confusing conversation that Azy didn't want to have anymore. She looked to Ciara and Jada to help her out, but they were both frozen in time. “I don't understand. I know my father was special, but he was just a cop who was shot by a gang. My mother was a mermaid who left me in his care. Also, I thought there were no such thing as female dragons. How can I be a dragon daughter?”
“We all have secrets dear. Your father was very special. Kur and I were very sad when he lost his battle to the demon dragons, protecting you.”
Rage bubbled up inside of Azy. “My father was killed in a gang shooting. It was my fault. I never should have told him they were harassing me.”
She had never said that outloud before. The words burned like acid coming out of her mouth.
“Look inside your heart, Azy. Your mind has protected you from the truth for long enough.” Inanna waved her hand over Azy's face and the tears came.
She let them flow, knowing they were helping to heal old wounds from the inside out. When she was all cried out Inanna floated a handkerchief across to her. “Will I remember my father was a blue dragon that was slain by Kur-Jara's bastards after you leave?”
“Some of that you always know in your heart.”
So, that was a no. That was okay for now, because Inanna had repaid whatever debt of gratitude she felt she had by allowing a part of Azy’s soul to heal. “Why did you feel you owe me a debt?”
“You have corrected one of my greatest failings. And I have many. We’ve been searching for our little red dragon for far too long. I knew my sister was involved, but I couldn’t risk her knowing I was on to her. Even after everyone else gave up on our girl you did not. For that I will be eternally grateful.”
“Fallyn?”
Inanna floated the handkerchief back over to herself and wiped a tear away. “I'd like to leave you with two things. One a token of my thanks, and the other a gift for Fallyn. Will you give it to her for me?”
Azy nodded. “But, you don't need to give me a gift.”
“Well, then think of it as a gift for Cage. I think he is feeling a little lost because he hasn't followed the same path as his brother wyverns to find you. This should help.”
Azy touched her neck and a necklace appeared in her hand. She lifted it and looked down to see a miniature of her mother's mirror with a shining golden pearl set in the middle. When she looked back up Inanna was gone.
“What was I saying?” Ciara plopped down next to Jada. “What were we talking about?”
Jada yawned. “I don’t know. I’m still not entirely a day person. It’s my nap time. And by nap time I mean sexy times with Ky and then I’m out like a light until around midnight.”
Ky Puru stuck his head into the tent. “Did I hear something about a nap, aroha?”
Ciara frowned and looked over at Azy. “Azy, I thought you didn’t have a necklace?”
She glanced down at her hand and a beautiful miniature mirror with a golden pearl sat in her hand. “Umm, oh. This old thing?”
For some reason she didn’t want to talk about how or where she’d gotten it. She did have a strong desire to show it to Cage.
“Thanks for the food, ladies. I’m going to check in on Fallyn. Then I think I could use a nap myself. Hell wasn’t exactly a restful place.”
She was tired, but after the food and chatting with the other mates she felt lighter, like a dark spot on her soul had been blotted out. Plus, she liked Jada’s idea of naptime.
Azy found Cage with Jakob and they were deep in conversation.
“You take her to The Lindens. I’ll make sure Match stays in Poland. But, I don’t want to keep him in the dark any longer than we have to. If Kur-Jara is going to mount an attack, the reds should be fighting by our sides.”
Cage was going to say something else, but stopped and turned to look over his shoulder, directly at her. She gave him a shy wave.
Wait, why was she feeling shy now? Maybe because she couldn’t get all the naughty things they’d done together out of her mind, now that he was looking at her with that smoulder in his eyes?
Yeah. That was it.
“Agreed. AllWyr at The Lindens then.” Cage walked away from Jakob who had a very knowing look in his face.
“Hi. How was your meal?” Cage wrapped his arm around her waist and brushed his lips across hers.
“Good. Interesting. Ciara and Jada are…nice.”
“Nice?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I have a feeling Ciara is going to try and talk you into letting her plan a few events for you.”
“Really? She didn’t say anything. What kind of events.”
“The kind with rings.”
Rings? Like wedding rings? Azy was not ready to talk about getting married. She promptly changed the subject. “I’d like to go see Fallyn. I have something for her.”
Wait, she did?
A white handkerchief was in her hand, and it was wrapped around something hard. She opened the material and revealed a necklace with a sparkling red phoenix charm with a ruby for an eye.
“Pretty. It’s definitely shiny so, I’m sure she’ll love it. But, can it wait until we get back to my home in the Netherlands? I’d like to get our group back there as soon as possible and get Fallyn under the watchful eye of my guard.”
“Uh. Sure. I guess so.” She rewrapped the necklace. “You live in the Netherlands?”
“Yeah. I think you’ll like it. There are canals everywhere, lots of water for you to splish and splash, since half the country is below sea level.”
She was used to warm waters off the coast of Africa. Didn’t it snow in the Netherlands? She hadn’t seen snow in years. “I don’t know of any Mami Wata who live that far north.”
“Is that important to you? You can invite them up if you want.”
“We’ll see.” Azy didn’t think they’d come. Maybe the three women who had come all the way to Illinois to get her when her father died would. But, the rest of the Mami Wata did not like change.
Azy had lived through some damn big changes in her life and it seemed like another was in order. She would have to make some allowanced and sacrifices in her life to adjust to Cage’s.
But, wait. When had it become her job to fit into his life?
Maybe he should be trying to fit into hers.
A fish and a bird could fall in love. But, where would they live?