“I’m so glad you’re home,” Lance exclaimed and rushed to meet his brother, pulling the elder, much larger, man into a masculine embrace. They thumped each other roughly on the back and pulled away.

Wesley Anderson let his gaze roam over his younger brother and smiled in approval.

“Leading suits you,” Wes stated proudly. “I left the Kingdom in good hands.”

Lance scoffed, his smile widening to reveal dual dimples and a boyishly soft radiance that only youth offered.

“And being a soldier definitely suits you,” Lance praised and Wes caught a glimpse of the baby brother who eagerly followed him everywhere. Even though Wesley was fifteen years older than Lance, from the moment his little brother came along, Wes had taken role as both guardian and teacher. They’d been inseparable for decades. Then their father had died and the mantle of leadership fell heavily on Wesley’s shoulders. He’d gone from being a carefree, fun-loving big brother, to being keeper, leader and protector of an entire Faction of subjects.

Wes waved his brother’s kudos aside with a mere flick of his wrist. Shortly after assuming control of the throne, Wesley knew he needed far more than his father’s legacy to hold the Fire Elementals’ reign. Needing guidance, structuring and discipline, he learned the U. S. Army was renowned as the best so he’d enlisted in the Human military as an everyday soldier.

He’d managed to hide his true self and age for more than twenty years before Prince Jaxen Monroe, leader of the Earth Elementals revealed the Dragons’ existence to the world. Wesley took Jax’s lead and revealed himself to his commanding officer. After a whirlwind of meetings and evaluations, Wes found himself promoted from grunt to leader of a newly formed branch of the U. S. Military - Species Interactive Negotiations or SIN for short; the division comprised completely of Dragons from each of the four factions.

SIN was called in when the best of the best failed. They always managed to get the job done - right and on the first try. They trained vigorously, endlessly and sometimes to the point of insanity. Seeing as though they weren’t exactly Human, their bodies needed a lot more resistance.

After five years of successful missions, Wesley finally decided it was time to fill his role as Prince Heir of the Fire Dragons. That had been a mere day before Elder Seraphina had contacted him on behalf of Prince Damien, leader of the Water Elementals. She’d informed him of the happenings he’d missed: the marriages of his three fellow leaders and the Elder Coffer’s rebellion.

The High Council of Elders had split down the middle, each half calling support to their side. Even though the Four Faction Princes had a peace treaty in place amongst them, their subjects weren’t all on the same side. Numerous Dragons from each of the Factions deserted their own people when they joined the malevolent Elders’ coup.

Now, it was pretty much each Dragon for him/herself. The other three Princes were up to their eyeballs in ferreting out spies amongst their people and Wes couldn’t allow his little brother to shoulder such a dangerous task alone; hence another reason for his retirement.

Dragon-kind in its entirety had invoked a Civil War when Coffer was defeated by Prince Damien. Now, their species was divided into two armies: those who supported Coffer in wanting the Ancient ways reinstated and those who didn’t. Coffer didn’t care who died in the cross-fire, so long as his side won. He sought power beyond anything a sole Elder should harness.

He wanted to combine all Four Elemental Factions under one rule; with himself on throne as the King.

After kidnapping Damien’s mate, Jasmine, the Water Prince tracked her down and almost killed Coffer. Elder Sera had stepped in, declaring they should follow protocol thereby giving Coffer a trial by his peers. Sera and her five allies took him prisoner and transported him to a safe, well-guarded facility.

No one, other than those six Elders, knew of Coffer’s location. However, regardless of Coffer’s incarceration, his minions initiated the next step in Coffer’s evil plan.

Wesley had immediately appointed a new leader of SIN and retired to the family estate in Death Valley, California. As one of the hottest places on earth, the Fire Elementals found comfort in the excessive heat.

Buried deep beneath the desert surface, Wesley’s faction had managed to carve out an entire city, large enough to house his entire Faction. Returning his attention to Lance, Wesley moved past his brother and slid behind his desk. Although the majority of the Faction lived underground, Wesley maintained the estate above-ground for business purposes.

“Well, it was time I retired and left the fighting to the young ones,” Wesley quipped, hoping to convey his false calmness over the entire uproar.

“Too bad the Four Factions have declared war on the Elders,” Lance observed. “You were called out of one war to fight in another. So much for retirement, huh?”

Wesley chuckled in dry amusement. Apparently Lance had no clue to the real danger they faced. That realization alone angered him beyond reason. It was the Throne Council’s responsibility to aid Lance and it was their job to know every detail. Either they were in on the coup and planned to throw Lance to the other side or they sincerely didn’t know.

“Well,” Wes mused, brushing his anger aside. He’d deal with the Council soon.

“I decided it was the perfect time to resume Father’s mantle. Why fight the Human’s war when we have our own? SIN in its entirety was given leave so that my soldiers could return to their homes and prepare for our own Civil War.”

“Out of the frying pan and into the skillet, eh?” Lance quipped.

“Exactly,” Wes agreed. “And I have a decree I’ve yet to follow.”

Lance’s eyes widened and a faint blush crept across his cheeks.

“You did send for her?” Wes asked, his body tensed at his brother’s hesitation.

“She’s on her way here now,” Lance confirmed. “Under tight guard and maximum security. I wouldn’t chance her safety after the two previous mates being taken hostage. I don’t know exactly how the females play into Coffer’s coup, but I wanted to ensure her arrival.”

Wesley nodded, inwardly pleased with his brother’s forethought. Apparently Lance had grown and learned much in his years on the throne. Wesley was very proud and could think of no higher honor than declare Lance as the Prince’s Adviser. Even though Lance was a Prince in his own right and legally, the next Heir, he could still serve the throne in a more formal capacity.

“Very good,” Wesley praised. “Would you care to remain by my side as my Adviser?” he asked, knowing Lance wasn’t going to leave his side.

Lance grinned broadly, his chest puffing like a frog.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way my brother,” he replied.

Wesley nodded curtly and smacked his open palm on the solid wood desk.

“That’s settled then,” he concluded. “Now we call a meeting of the Throne’s Council. We have things to discuss and a game plan to formulate.”