Chapter 28
Alex wept openly. Held on to her mother like she was a lifeline.
Gray wiped the tears from her eyes. “I am so very, very sorry, my beautiful child. Sorry for everything. I could hardly bear living, knowing you’d been taken from me, knowing I had to stay away from you.”
“Why didn't you bring me here before now?”
“I didn't know where you were. Your guardian hid you well. Please don’t hate me, Alex.”
“I don’t hate you. I just don’t understand all of this. I don’t understand why I wasn’t sent to you right from the start.”
Gray held her tightly. “I can only assume your grandmother thought asking Collum Thronus to make you disappear was the right thing to do. That she was protecting you from the elders. She thought I was dead. Everyone did. Truthfully, I almost was. Domhall saved my life, weaved a spell to keep me alive until he could get me to a healer. He knew the elders would steal you and agreed with Mother that you should be hidden for your own safety. He told her I’d died while she was cleaning you in the other room.”
Alex swiped her arm across her face. Sniffled on the last of her tears. “Why would he do that? Lie to his own wife?”
Gray replied, “I learned long ago not to question my father. He has knowledge and foresight none of us can claim to understand. I'm certain he knew of Neeren and your father Daylen almost from the start.” She weaved slightly in the sand.
Neeren steadied her. “It is all right, Mother. We’re together now. Father knows you loved him.”
Jealousy surge through Alex as she watched the interplay between the two. She might never have the same bond.
“Daughter, look at me please,” Gray said as she brushed her cheek. “I love you with every breath in my body. What Domhall did, I believe he did to protect us all. He afforded you the chance at life. He afforded me time to grieve my husband. Neeren had time to learn how to lead. War will find us soon. I'm happy it didn't find us twenty-five years ago.”
“What about Collum? He’s the one that hid me from you.”
“Your dragon is a worthy mate. I have no quarrel with the beast. He only did as Kaylen asked. In truth, if not for him, we would be dead, slain by his father. Collum kept you hidden from those who would hurt you. There is nothing to avenge. We will not harm him.” She laughed then, a real laugh filled with joy. “Not that I think we could.”
Alex remembered the feel of his skin on hers, his lips on hers. “Why does everyone keep calling him mine? There was no commitment between us. He’s an infuriating man. In fact, he's a bit of a bully.”
Gray laughed again. Then turned to kiss Neeren’s head. “My darling boy, please leave me with my daughter. We have so much to catch up on.”
Alex examined the reflection of the moon on the water. The Parthen lived in paradise, attuned to the sounds of the tropical birds that shared the island with them. Fig trees lined the upper beaches. The delightful musk of honeysuckle vines filled the air. Gray’s voice brought her back to the present.
“I hated your father when I first met him. He was pompous, so self-assured. It drove me insane. We met in battle. I’d taken out one of his cats. He almost beat me that first time. At the last second, he pulled back and told me I was too pretty to kill. He shifted into a giant panther and took off before I could finish him. He assumed no women could ever hurt him.” She laughed. “The second time we met, I slashed his face open with my vine. He hated me then. We were mortal enemies. But we couldn't stop chasing each other. Maybe we thought it was to prove we were stronger than the other. Can you imagine a king being bested by a mere woman?”
Gray dropped to the sand, stuck her toes in the water. Gentle waves wrapped around her lower body. She motioned for Alex to sit with her.
“This is my beach. No others come here, except Neeren. It’s where your father and I first met. It’s where I feel closest to him.” She smiled conspiratorially. “There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't want to smack the self-assured smile off his face. It drove me nuts, but I could never take the king out of the man. I loved him even more because of it.”
Alex traced a figure eight in the water as waves turned her violet dress dark plum. She waited for Gray to continue.
“Neeren is the same. He was raised to be a king. Was raised to know he was more powerful than any of the others. The women here worship him. He treats them well, has never harmed a living Parthen female, but he’s different from them. Neeren has never been told no. After Daylen’s murder, I fell apart. Neeren has treated me like a porcelain doll since, and I'm ashamed to admit I've let him. He will treat you the same if you allow it. I tell you this because he needs you to stand up to him. He will be forever alone if you don’t.”
She grasped Alex’s hand. “You must be stronger, my dear. You must not be burdened with the need to protect all Parthen like your brother. You must only protect yourself. That is what will save us all in the end.”
Alex stood and walked into the water, up to her waist. The ends of her hair smoked as though breathing. “I want you to know that I had good parents. They loved me and treated me well, but they died too. All of this is so much. Maybe it isn’t the same thing as what Neeren went through. What you went through. But it matters to me. You’d would’ve liked them.”
Gray followed her into the water and hugged her, kissed the tears on her cheeks. “I may have forgotten for a while, but we are warriors. We are strongest together. Domhall reunited our strength. Perhaps it's atonement for his part. I don't know. One rarely knows what my father is thinking. Now, about that dragon of yours.”
“Oh come on, can you guys let this rest. Collum isn't my dragon.”
“Did you sleep with him?”
“Seriously?” Her cheeks exploded with heat. When her mother simply nodded, she said, “Okay. Yes. I slept with him. But I've slept with other guys.”
Gray waved her hand in dismissal. “Beside the point. Did he blow smoke into your body? Did your fire embrace him? Brand him? Did he bite you?” She reached out to trace Alex’s tattoo. The leaves and petals on her arms strained toward Alex.
“Oh, my God, I just realized that I’ve seen you before. I had a dream about you.”
Gray smiled. “I wondered when you’d remember. Even with no knowledge, you reached me in your dream. You are so strong, my child. But quit changing the subject. Tell me about Collum.”
Alex knew she was blushing again. Maybe she’d catch on fire and have to dunk herself in the ocean. “Yes, to all of it.”
“Then you have been claimed. You two are now one.”
“Honestly, this seems like a bit of a sham. The next morning, he brushed me off. So, whatever. No big deal.”
Gray dismissed her complaint with a wave. “Nothing but nerves. Ignore it. I doubt the noble dragon told you this, but once he claimed you, he claimed his mate for life. He can be with no other now. He might not be ready to admit it. Might even fight it, but sorry to say, you two are stuck together.”
“Excuse me?” Alex stumbled in the water before saying, “Not funny.”
Her mom grasped her arm, steadied her. “I’m not kidding.”
“Oh, God. This is an immortal thing, right? Shouldn't I have some say in it? You know, like the way people talk about feelings and futures before making a commitment.”
“Goddess, darling,” Gray admonished. “You do have a choice. You can choose to stay away from him. In which case, you might be able to move on to another guy. You certainly have that right, but I doubt it will work. I've met the Dragon King. For a dragon, it is much different though. You're it for him. Once a dragon claims, he can be with no other. Oh, he’ll survive without you I suppose, but he’ll never love another.”
“No one said the love word, Mother.”
Gray laughed. “I suspect that's precisely why he pushed you away. It’s likely he wished to explore your relationship, your feelings for each other before, bringing any of this up. Collum Thronus is a leader of honor, likely the most honorable among us.” She shrugged. “Besides, your fire wanted him too. That's a pretty clear indication the pressure isn't so bad. Anyway, I imagine he'll find his way here eventually. That dragon has never quit.”
“What if I don't want him? What if I'm not ready?”
“There is a way to test that theory.” Gray pulled Alex out of the water. They ambled back to the castle arm in arm. “You have the power to dreamwalk, my darling. Go to him in his dreams.”
A night bird warbled in the distance. Sparks flickered at the ends of Alex’s hair. She pushed her fingers through the knots that always seemed to be there. “I don't know how.”
“I’ll teach you. Every night we were separated, Daylen joined me in my dreams. I watched him guide Neeren through the process when he was little.” Gray started up the hill. “Come on, it's the middle of the night. If we’re going to make it happen, we better get started before it’s too late. Your dragon is probably an early riser.”
“Mother, stop.” Alex tugged on her arm. “I don't think I want to do this.”
“Nonsense. That is only fear talking. You miss him. I'm sure you want to offer him explanations. You can even simply peek in to make sure he is sleeping soundly if you want. He doesn't need to know you were there.”
“I can do that? Isn’t it a bit voyeuristic?”
“Voyeuristic? This is the Parthen gift. You control the dreams you walk in. Let me help you. I missed so much of your life. I missed your first laughs, your first steps, your first loves and heartbreaks. I want to help with this. Will you let me?”
“It would be . . . nice . . . to see Collum asleep.” She beamed at her mother. “Let's hurry before I come to my senses and change my mind.”
~ ~ ~
They ran across the beach like children, drunk on the high of finding each other and the act of mischief they were about to perform. Four-footed sentries roamed the glowing halls as they raced through the castle. All bowed on front paws as they passed. In minutes, the two of them swept into her room. As soon as Alex closed the door, Gray began her instructions.
“It’s very simple, my darling. You merely need to fall asleep with a vision of Collum in your mind. Since this is your first attempt, you may need someone to ground you, so I will stay until you fall asleep. If he’s awake you won't be able to reach him. You gain admittance to the mind through the dream state. It’s much different than telepathy. First, you begin with meditation. Visualize being in the room with him. Then walk into that meditation. Dreams, for many immortals, feel the same as reality. A few experience disorientation afterward, but I doubt that will be the case for a creature as old and powerful as Collum Thronus.”
Alex paid close attention to every word. “The first time Neeren contacted me, I’d fallen asleep on the airplane and woke up in a tropical garden. I remember everything feeling very fuzzy. I think he brought me here.”
Gray nodded. “He wanted to bring you somewhere familiar the first time you met. It was easier to pick a location he felt safe in, rather than trying to guess one of yours. Because of his power and your blood connection, he was able to bring you to a place of his choosing. You won't be able to do that yet.”
“So, how do I reach Collum?”
“First, get out of the wet dress you’re wearing and put on some comfortable sleeping clothes. I'll bring a blanket off the bed while you do that.”
Gray motioned to the thick, yellow leather loveseat, by the south window. “That spot is perfect. I'll ring for wine while you change. It will help calm your nerves and make it easier to get into a meditative space.” She pushed her toward the closet. “Go, Alexedria, we haven't a ton of time. Tonight, we fight the rise of the sun.”
Alex stripped out of her wet dress. The garment was destroyed. It had been a beautiful dress for a beautiful day but, as the day ended, she reached for something more her style. She exited the closet five minutes later wearing a soft peach cotton tank top and pyjama bottoms. Thankfully, Neeren added casual clothes to the mix of high end garments. The closet was a combination of gently worn tank tops, bad-ass jeans, and Grecian influenced dresses.
Gray nodded approvingly when she saw her. “I suspected you would be more comfortable in something like that. No one who cares about fine Greek silk would have wandered into the ocean in that dress like you did earlier. It is good. It's fitting for a warrior to care more about the health of her body and less about what goes on it.”
“You’re still in your wet dress. Do you want to wear something of mine?”
“Thank you, dear, but no. The material will dry soon enough and I'm not staying long anyway. I'll change when I return to my room.”
The knock at the door signaled the arrival of their wine. Gray thanked the servant at the door with a smile and returned hoisting an open bottle and two crystal glasses. “We have success. It's the good stuff.”
Alex burst out laughing. She suspected in another time her mother was hell to handle. She hoped she'd get a chance to see her that way.
Gray poured the deep red wine into two glasses, handed one to Alex and gracefully lowered herself to the loveseat, curling her feet underneath her. She could have been wearing the crown jewels, Alex thought, not a dripping white sheath.
Gray raised the glass. “A toast to us, to finding family, and a toast to the dragon. May he sleep well this night and welcome your walk.”
As the liquid hit her mouth Alex’s tongue melted. She held the sweet elixir in her mouth for as long as she could before swallowing. “Oh, my God. You weren't kidding. This is amazing.”
“It better be. It’s from Neeren's private stock. He must have warned the staff to have a bottle ready for us. You see what I mean? Neeren will make sure the staff takes care of your every want and need. He will expect it of them . . . and no one denies Neeren. Now have another drink and think of the dragon. Let yourself drift if you feel the need to. Picture a space where you felt safe with him. Let your eyes close when they are ready. The wine will help you fall asleep quickly. My dear girl, you must so be tired. In the last few days you've spanned half the world, and begun a new life.”
Alex savored the wine while listening to her mother’s quiet voice. Even if this didn't work, she knew she would remember this moment as one of the loveliest of her life.
Gray smiled. “Allow your breathing to deepen as you drink. Picture his face in your mind. Think of the best parts of him. The best moment with him. Tell yourself you are going to see him. Think of the destination. Can you see the space, Alex?”
Alex’s eyes grew heavy. The wine she sipped was drugged. A fact her mother had left out, she thought, as her lids closed. She'd be mad at her if she weren’t already drifting off. Then again maybe Gray didn't know. She'd be mad at Neeren instead. First, she had to go find Collum.
She was certain her mother kissed her cheek and said, “I love you,” before leaving the room.
As Alex drifted further into the world of dreams, her last conscious thought was . . . the night had been long and beautiful here.