Chapter Two
Audiv
Audiv yawned as she plunked herself down at one of the long tables in the cafeteria. As a senior staff member, she could have the kitchens send her up some specially-prepared food, but she thought it helped the new mages to see her interacting with them and leading a life more similar to theirs. Besides, they still had great chefs here, and there was nothing wrong with the cafeteria food.
She swigged down a mouthful of coffee and glanced up as Katrina sat down across from her, a plastic tray in her hands. Audiv nodded toward the princess but didn’t make any of the gestures she’d normally do with the royal family. Katrina disliked a big fuss being made over her presence, and today was one of the days when Audiv was perfectly fine with that.
“Did you complete that project Indulf asked you to work on?” Katrina asked, rearranging her milk carton and fries.
“Yes, thank the Gods old and new.” Audiv poked at the wrap she had ordered. It had seemed so appealing before, but now, not so much. “Just in time, too. I’m taking the mages out today, to practice some growth magic in the gardens. See if any of them have that talent.”
Katrina nodded. “How are they coming along? I heard you’ve had some trouble.”
“Nothing I can’t deal with.” Audiv waved a hand. “Besides, it’ll be the weekend soon enough, a break from all these classes.”
“I know,” Katrina sighed as she popped a fry in her mouth. “I’m really looking forward to it. I didn’t think this was going to be such an involved process when Indulf asked me to help Thonis out with it. I can’t wait to see my parents again, it’s been so long… since Charles was born, actually.”
Audiv nodded, biting her tongue. It was a sore spot with her, that Katrina didn’t see Indulf as her father. He, who loved her and searched so long for her after she was taken away from him. Audiv understood it was a strange situation for them, but she had no problem calling the people who adopted her Mom and Dad, and seemed to have no hesitation referring to Warmund, Indulf’s son, as her brother. So why was it that she called Indulf by his name, rather than any number of variants of Father that were out there?
Maybe she just didn’t understand the bond of adoption. Audiv’s own family was close-knit, and she couldn’t imagine finding out about a new family member and not embracing them with eagerness and love. Maybe it was different for Katrina, having had a mother and father for so long that loved her and whom she loved… Audiv had to wonder how she would react if she was introduced to someone who looked very near the same age as her and was told he was her father. It would be difficult…
But she would still call him father. She wouldn’t deny him that, especially if she had been stolen away from him. She also knew that Indulf wanted Katrina to call him father, and it was Katrina, not the king, who had settled on this first name business.
Audiv drank more coffee and shook her head. It wasn’t any of her business, really… if Katrina didn’t want to call Indulf her father, then that was her prerogative. Maybe it was a sore spot and maybe it did annoy her, but it wasn’t her business. She needed to remember that, and not be so judgmental.
“You got any plans for the weekend?” Katrina continued, raising a brow at Audiv.
“No. Maybe get some research in. Maybe just spend the whole glorious two days in bed.” Audiv shrugged. “Most likely I’ll end up being called to help with some crisis here or there. With you away, I’ve been asked to keep a closer eye on the new dragons.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’ll have the opportunity to spend the weekend in bed.”
Audiv shrugged. She wouldn’t want to do that, anyway. Not really. She could lounge a bit and get some reading done, but she knew she would soon find herself bored with nothing to do.
“They’re having such a hard time,” Katrina continued. She stared down at her food and spread ketchup around on her tray with a fry. “The new dragons. So many of them have been completely cut off from their own lives. We need to get more therapists in here. Or send a few of our guys through school. Something. It’s been traumatic for most of them… God, I’m glad my first shift didn’t hurt anybody.”
“Yeah. A lot of my new mages are going through the same thing.”
Audiv didn’t know what it would be like, to have your world turned upside down like that. Truthfully, she didn’t understand them either. Magic was always such an intrinsic part of her that the thought of having gone through life without it scared her so badly that she would have been dancing in the streets had she suddenly received it. These new mages who cried and wished that they didn’t have magic? She just didn’t understand them.
Maybe that was her problem. Maybe she just didn’t know how to put herself in others’ shoes.
“You should apply for some vacation time,” Katrina continued. The princess’ eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Audiv. “You look like you're running yourself ragged. Nobody wants to see you go down, you’re too important to the palace. You need some time to step back and have a break. Stop going at full throttle all the time.”
Audiv snorted. “Alright, sure. I’ll do that right away. When there is nobody to take my place even for a few hours.”
Katrina rolled her eyes. “Byrelmore isn’t going to fall apart without you. And I’m serious. Take some time. Otherwise, I’ll have to get Indulf to give you a forcible vacation, and you know that you’re not going to like that!”
Audiv frowned at Katrina. She wouldn’t do that… Or maybe she would. Katrina had taken to her part as a princess naturally, taking charge and giving orders like she was born to it. Which she was. She might have given up her right to the throne in exchange for her younger half-brother, Erik, but she was every bit a member of the royal household.
Maybe a change of topic would distract her. “How is that FBI man doing? What’s his name… Anthony?”
Katrina smirked. “Why is it that you always remember his name except when you’re asking about him directly?”
Heat flared to Audiv’s cheeks, and she looked down at her plate. Okay, maybe subtlety wasn’t her strong suit.
Katrina’s eyes twinkled for a moment before she sighed. “He’s having a hard time. I mean, more difficult than the others. He seems to have accepted his place here, but I don’t think he knows what that place is, or where he’s going to go from here. He still refuses to shift voluntarily.”
That made Audiv frown. They had done quite a bit of studying on the matter, and without voluntarily shifting, there was an increased risk of accidents with new dragons. Normally they’d be strongly encouraged to voluntarily shift and often, but she had only heard a handful of incidents with Antonio. Not that she was actively searching out news about him… it just surprised her. She’d have thought that there would be more incidents since he was suppressing such a natural part of himself.
Katrina began eating with gusto as Audiv nibbled at her own food. Antonio was an unusual case. She remembered going to him with the offer of bringing him to Byrelmore to be tested for the possibility that he might become a dragon. She had sensed something in him then and tried to insist when he refused, but there was something about him that, when he said no, she just couldn’t argue. Which was highly unusual for her. Normally she could find an argument in everything.
After his shift, the rest of his family had come in to be tested. His grandmother had cried and prayed and begged her to take the ’curse’ off him and his cousins. Audiv had been ticked off at the little woman over that but tried to be understanding. His four cousins, however, had all by this time returned to their families. Most newcomers had family here with them during their transitions.
Audiv knew exactly what made Antonio different from the others, though, and it had nothing to do with his family and everything to do with those soulful amber-brown eyes that seemed to pierce straight to her core when he looked at her. His chiseled jaw, the pride, and confidence he held himself with… And the fact that she hadn’t dated or had a kiss since she had caught her fiancé in bed with another woman.
“It’s your own fault for being such a prude,” he had told her when she kicked him out of the house.
“Speaking of Antonio.” Katrina tapped Audiv’s hand. “He’s headed this way. I think I’ll pack up… Gotta go see Thonis anyway.”
She winked and Audiv stared at her as she left. Then Antonio was there. He slid into the chair beside her, setting down a tray filled with protein-rich foods and plenty of greens.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Audiv shook her head. “Nobody else is.”
Antonio gave her a relaxed smile as he sat. There was visible tension in his shoulders as he took a drink of some sort of smoothie, then frowned at her coffee. “Don’t you think it’s a little late for that? It’s not even decaf.”
“Uh…” Audiv glanced at her coffee. “I was up early this morning and I’ve got a lot left to do today.”
“Anything I can help you with?”
The offer startled her. Sitting this close, his scent was as strong as the coffee in her hand. That peculiar scent of smoke that clung to all dragons, but with him, there was also the smell of hickory and something else she couldn’t quite name. It was familiar enough that it wasn’t something utterly unique to Antonio, but she just didn’t know what it was.
“Uh…” Right, he asked a question. “I don’t think so. It’s mostly paperwork and reports and that sort of thing that only I can do.”
“Paperwork. I know what that’s about.” He grinned and shook his head. “I’d say that’s the only thing I don’t miss about my job. The paperwork was brutal. But it’s necessary for smooth running, I guess.”
Audiv nodded. “I heard that you quit your job at the FBI, rather than just take a sabbatical. Do you mind telling me why?”
“Because I didn’t want to get fired.” Pain flashed over Antonio’s face. “Historically, humans aren’t so great with things and people who challenge their internal beliefs. I very much doubt that I’d be allowed to do my job, the way I want to do it… even if I went back.” He glowered at his plate for a moment, then shook his head. “I’m sure I’ll find some use for myself here, though. No use crying over what can’t be changed.”
Audiv didn’t respond to that, even though her heart ached to comfort him. What could she say? She turned back to her plate, and they finished their meals in silence.