Chapter 46
The sun beat down on Collum like fire. Alex's skin glowed with it. Behind them, past the edge of the cliff, the ocean churned, the only indication of Neeren's agitation.
Collum stood next to Alex, on the edge of control, ready to become the dragon he was if necessary. Behind them stood the rest of the family and a dozen of Neeren's most trusted soldiers.
They met half a mile away from the house, on a ledge that looked out over the Parthen kingdom. The Mediterranean breeze wafted over them. The earth stood sure and solid beneath their feet.
To the side, a breathtaking buffet had been laid out as befitting a king and his guests. Tables were draped with sky blue cloths and covered with platters of salads and lobster. Champagne rested in silver buckets filled with ice. Chilled trays of crisp strawberries, covered in thick cream were laid out on a side table. Ten seats fitted with thick yellow and blue cushions were pulled out from the table. It was a setting for reconciliation, not for war.
All day, Alex and Collum had made love against the ocean. Claiming each other with fire as the sun fell and the moon rose. They’d spoken no further of love or mating. Words had felt inadequate. Instead they simply let their bodies claim each other. It had been enough for both. Now, they stood together, hands entwined, fire pouring through their veins.
Collum noticed their adversaries first. Parthen security forces led them from the dock to the group waiting at the top of the ridge.
Lachon the Law and the head of his security force, Idris, led the visitors. He was a member of the wolverine race and had been with Lachon for over two hundred years.
Collum and the man, made eye contact. A barely imperceptible nod passed between the two.
The twins, Taurin and Ealian Gondien followed them. Both were dressed in old velvet robes that swamped their frail bodies. Their glassy eyes landed squarely on Alex. More Elemental forces followed and stood with the elders. They all waited to see what would happen next.
Neeren, Collum, Alex, and Domhall walked to meet the members of the council. Lachon, Ealian, and Taurin met them. Collum noted the caution written on their faces. Idris held back slightly behind the group. He and Collum made eye contact, nodded.
Once they all stood in front of each other, Neeren and Alex stepped forward.
Neeren spoke first. “Welcome to our Island.”
Lachon stepped forward, extended his hand. “Thank you for the invitation. I'm afraid you have us at a disadvantage. You appear to know who we are. We cannot say the same.”
Alex shook the extended hand and replied, “Yes, that was necessary. My name is Alexedria Simine, this is my brother, Neeren Simine, King of the Parthen. You had our father murdered.”
Taurin and Ealian gasped and backed away. “Two children. Did you know? How did this happen?”
Lachon raised both his hands to stop them from speaking. Idris intercepted them, became a brick wall behind their backs.
“So.” Lachon smiled, nodding his head at Domhall. “There were two?”
“There were,” Domhall replied.
“And how do you fit in to this, King Thronus?” Lachon asked.
Collum had quietly watched the beginning part of the play. Let the game pieces move as they would. He stepped forward with deceptive calm. His body coiled and ready to strike.
“I’m the female’s protector.” He placed his hand on Alex's shoulder. “And her mate. She’s under the protection of the dragons now.”
Behind them, Ealian screeched, “This is treason. You are the guardian of all immortals. You cannot pick a side.”
Collum growled at her. Took a step forward. “I do not answer to you. You forget who I am.”
Around them, winds whipped up leaves and sand. Behind them the ocean surged. The soil groaned beneath their feet.
Lachon spoke. “Forgive her, King Thronus. Taurin, please calm your sister, the day is only beginning.” His next words were directed to Alex. “My apologies. We were unaware of your mother’s,” he paused before saying, “other life.”
Standing at her side, Collum made sure she felt the heat of him in her bones.
“Are you sure?” Alex pointed to Taurin and Ealian. “Perhaps some of you were threatened by it? Perhaps some of you wanted her dead?”
Lachon glanced at Taurin and Ealian. “Touché, but I’m afraid you have no proof.”
From the shadows, a queen appeared. The wind whipped hair the color of ice against her face. Her dark plum eyes flashed with an inner light.
“I am your proof.”
Lachon swore under his breath.
Domhall announced her. “I believe you all remember my daughter, Gray.”
Idris grabbed Ealian’s hand.
Taurin bowed to Gray and said, “So you’re alive. How very interesting that is. And how strange that we didn't see it coming.”
Neeren stepped closer to his mother. “We have prepared a meal so that a discussion of restitution may begin.”
“You are a dreamwalker, as is your sister,” Ealian cried. “We will not eat with you—you are killers.”
“Kettle. Black,” Alex said.
Ealian wrenched her arm free of Idris. “The only restitution to be had is your death.”
Collum growled low in his throat and spoke directly to Lachon. “Control her or your days of battling will be over.”
Lachon stepped in front of the woman. “Ealian, I’d rather not die before lunch. I believe your brother agrees with me. Now, I'm sure we can all act civil for a bit longer.” He nodded to Neeren. “We will, of course, accept your hospitality and join you for lunch.”
Neeren smiled as Ealian fumed. He turned his back on them to clasp his mother’s hand. As they crossed the meadow, the rest of the group followed. From the shadows, Quinn and Mar emerged to join them.
Collum maneuvered himself and Alex to the rear of the group so he could listen to the multitude of conversations. He knew she wanted to be upfront with her brother but needed her with him and it was easier to keep an eye on your prey when they couldn’t see you watching.
Lachon sidled up to Quinn as the group made their way across the meadow. “Feeling guilty about anything?”
“Nothing at all. What about you? Like sentencing my sister and her unborn child to death perhaps?”
“Quinn,” he began, “You know I did not know.”
“Oh, Lachon, that is a poor excuse. Are you really such a weak man? I don't forgive you. I don't care about you.” She gave the man a scathing look before she and Mar walked on.
As Lachon watched her go, his shoulders appeared heavy with weight. Domhall caught up with him. “Been Quinned have you?”
“What?”
“Oh nothing. It's just no one can knock a person down a peg or two quite like my glorious daughter.”
“She does have a way of making me feel like a piece of shit. How are you, Domhall?”
“I miss my wife. You?”
“I'm confused. Why are we here?”
“That's up to you, buddy.”
Collum listened with interest. Perhaps Domhall had given them a chance at redemption after all.
As they neared their seats, silence descended. Blood pounded under Collum’s skin. It was a table set for a beautiful death.
~ ~ ~
Collum gestured for Taurin and Ealian to take their seats across from Neeren and Gray. He and Alex sat to their right across from Lachon and Idris. Domhall sat on the other side with Quinn and Mar.
Lachon spoke first. “It seems your family is becoming larger, Domhall. What is it you think to request from us?”
Alex said, “You really only need to direct your questions to my brother, mother, and myself.” She sneered at the man across the table as servants poured them wine. “After all, it is our lives that were destroyed.”
Lachon nodded. “As you wish. What is it you hope to accomplish today?”
“Well, I’m a bit new at all this, so I guess I’d like to know why?”
“That is the question of all questions, isn’t it?” Lachon turned to Taurin and Ealian. “Would either of you like to handle that?”
Ealian swallowed her wine and levelled a scathing look on the trio. She looked directly at Gray. “You were reckless. You endangered us all. Look what you’ve done.”
“I fell in love.”
“With an abomination.”
Neeren replied, “My father was not an abomination. My people are not abominations.”
“You’re dreamwalkers,” Ealian snarled. “We know what your kind can do. Has done.”
The wind whipped around them. The Parthen servants struggled to keep the meal from getting covered by flying debris.
Lachon spoke to Gray. “We did the right thing.” He motioned to all four of the elders. “We all agreed it was the only sensible choice to keep you from damaging yourself. We chose what we thought was a suitable mate. You should have been happy with the dragon.”
“He was a monster,” Gray replied.
“And how were we to know this?” Lachon said. “If you’d been forthcoming perhaps things would have been different.”
“Some of you knew, Lachon. Besides if I’d been more forthcoming, you would have killed my son.”
Collum spoke up then and addressed the group. “All of the dragon kind knew of my father’s penchant for hurting women, for causing pain. I’m curious as to how you missed this vital information. Was there no vetting of a suitable mate?”
Answering quietly, Lachon said, “I take responsibility for this. I understood he was vetted. I should have checked myself.” He said the last bit while looking at Taurin.
Alex interjected, “I still don’t understand why you hate our kind so much. What’s the big deal if we dreamwalk? All of you immortals seemed to have different powers. Why are we so horrible to you?”
Taurin answered. “Because you can kill us in our sleep you idiot. If you enter our dream you can kill us. Did you honestly think we’d allow that to happen? And it isn’t only the elders. No Elemental will ever accept your kind.”
The table fell silent, struck by the malice in Taurin’s voice. Collum prepared to rip the man’s throat out.
Neeren spoke before he could raise his voice. “The King of the Parthen was murdered. Someone must pay for that.”
Ealian laughed. “A dragon killed your father.” She pointed to Collum. “Talk to his people, not ours.” She stood and Taurin stood with her. “And whatever this is supposed to be today, changes nothing. You’ve only made things worse.”
Domhall uncurled his long legs and pushed his chair back from the table. As he stood he spoke for the first time. His words echoed across the field. “Time teaches many things to us. As will what happens here today.”
The rest of the table stood, lunch forgotten.
The ends of Alex’s hair caught fire, the ocean behind them churned, the earth beneath their feet rolled and the wind tossed all the players around the meadow like puzzle pieces.