Sunshine

She pulled away from the door and the males standing watch outside. The morning was bright and clear, the icy cold breaths refreshed her and brought her thoughts into focus. There was no snow on the ground here, and the brown grass crunched beneath her feet as she rounded the gentle swell of the underground burrow. The trees here were ancient and huge and Lianna got the feeling that she was being watched even though there was no one in sight. She loved walking beneath the giant canopy, it offered a whole different world than flying did, and her back was still sore from the last few days of being airborne almost constantly. Eris had mentioned the little people had given him a gift once, and she wondered if it was they who watched her now. A sharp snap had her head swiveling to the right, her fire leaping to her chest. His dark presence appeared from around a giant ash tree and she let out a startled hiss.

“What are you doing here?” She snarled through her teeth.

“Coming to warn you.” He answered as he looked her over. His onyx eyes roved over her like a starved man and he sauntered over to her with sure, but unhurried steps. When he was only an arms-breadth away he stopped and Lianna knew he could hear the pounding of her heart. The subconscious reaction her body had to his nearness left her breathless and confused.

“Warn me of what?” She asked, scanning his features for any sign of treachery.

“The King has disappeared and is likely waiting for you somewhere South of the mountains. Last night, word reached the castle that two of his camps had been destroyed and a dragon was spotted flying East over the mountains. He left in a hurry and did not tell anyone where he was going. One of my spies told me he went South.” Aeros finished.

“Why would you tell me this?” Her beast was rioting inside her, lava poured through her veins. All she could think of was that he was here, he had come back to her, his long midnight hair floating in the breeze as he watched her with those unfathomable eyes.

“So you would be aware of the possible danger that awaits you outside of these mountains. Because, I could not bear to see you hurt, or worse.” His hand came up to caress her cheek, tracing the delicate angle of her jawline. Lianna shuddered at the contact, swallowing audibly. His fingers swept down her throat to tangle in her hair and his raging desire for her slammed into her with a force that nearly made her knees buckle.

“Aeros.” She whispered, her eyes sliding shut as the powerful emotions coursed through her. Then his lips were suddenly on hers and he was backing her into a tree. His hands on her hips, lifted her as he pinned her there and she fit into him perfectly. Insanity took over and nothing else mattered except that she was in his arms and he held her close, devouring her mouth like a starving man. The wild need overtook all thought as the burning warmth of his hand seared through her thin buckskin breeches. Then his fingers were there, touching the core of her, slithering against the pulsing heat that made her weak in his arms. Lianna’s fingernails dug into his bare shoulders as her body demanded more. She tore her lips from his, moaning in wanton pleasure as her head fell back against the tree bark. His lips traced a path down her throat, while one hand cupped a breast, and she writhed in reaction. Her body was on fire and she was going to explode right here, taking out him and half of the forest. As the thought skittered across her mind, a blazing sensation rippled across her lower half, and then there was nothing between his hands and her skin as he explored the wet heat between her legs. One long finger pushed inside her, past the barrier that was the entrance to her womanhood. Lianna arched into the invasion, wanting more of him. “Aeros please.” She half begged, half wailed, her ragged breathing sending little puffs of steam floating toward the treetops. His answering growl tortured her soul and he took her lips again in mutinous demand. He slid a second finger inside her slick walls, and his thumb began circling above, round and round in slow circles that had her bucking in frenzied need against him.

“Oh, Gods Lianna.” He rasped, pulling away almost imperceptibly for a moment. She whimpered at the loss of his heat against her, even as his hand continued its sensuous torture beneath her dress. Her hands tightened on his shoulders, trying to pull him back just as his hand ceased its ministrations, instantly replaced by his hard throbbing member. His hands held her hips and he slammed into her with a guttural sound that echoed her scream as he thrust her back into the tree. The fullness of the sensation sent her over some precipice and she sank her teeth into his neck, bursting into flames around him. He began to move in and out of her in a slow but hard rhythm that mirrored the throbbing of her blood. Her fingers tangled in his hair, sparking with electricity at the strange sensations. The throbbing became more insistent with each thrust and she felt she was being hurtled towards that brink again. She threw her head back against the tree, opening her eyes to see him as he pounded into her, claiming her body as his. She felt the slippery blood drip down her bottom lip from where she had bitten him moments before and watched his eyes flare in primal need. She let her eyes drift shut as the overwhelming sensation seized her and she convulsed around him. His roar of approval drowned out her scream of pleasure and his mouth closed over the curve of her neck where it met her shoulder. At that moment Lianna felt the world move beneath her and a spiraling light seemed to leap between them. The sound that came from him made her hair stand on end. He pushed into her one last time and held himself there as he exploded within her. All of the tension left her body and she sagged against him. Her head dropped forward onto his shoulder and she tried to take deep calming breaths.

As life beyond them flickered back into her consciousness, she became aware of a searing tether that seemed to connect her beast to his. Her eyes grew wide and she pulled back as realization set in. His head snapped up and his dark gaze pinned hers. He released his manacle hold on her waist and let her legs slide down beneath her, but kept her hostage against the tree. She could not only blame him for this encounter, she knew and hated herself for it. She broke his stare and chose to survey her now bare legs. Her pants had been burnt away, by him or her, it did not matter at this point. Her eyes narrowed on the thin drops of blood that spattered her thighs. She watched his hands reach toward the ruby red drops and wipe them away with his fingers. She followed his movements and inhaled a sharp breath when he licked the blood from his fingertips. Her body began to tingle in reaction and she fought the overpowering sensation that demanded she pull him back into her.

“I suppose this means I belong to you now?” She whispered, looking away from him and the evidence smeared across his lips, the two tiny pinpricks where she had claimed him still bright pink against the darkness of his skin just below his ear. He would have none of it. He gently cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eyes once again.

“No. This means that we are now connected in a way that no one can deny. I do not want to own you, Lianna, that is not how this works. It means that we share a bond that cannot be broken or altered. What we make of it is up to us.” His soft speech eased some of the panic that had begun to take hold, and the warmth of his hand brushing against his mark on her collar bone elicited a shudder that had her hair simmering to life.

“It means I will not tolerate anyone else touching you. Kissing you.” His soft tone turned hard and savage. His pupils elongated into flaming reptilian slits and steam curled from his mouth as he said it.

Lianna did not let him bully her, did not even let his tone upset her; the new feelings bubbling within her attached to the golden thread that connected them left no room for anything but awe. She brought her hand up to caress his bottom lip and another shiver raced up her spine.

“I accept your terms, mate.” She whispered and deliberately brought her face back to his for a slow kiss. Lianna was delighted when he shuddered against her this time before his hands yanked her into him once more. The tension began to build within her again and she felt Aeros’s aura jump out to surround them in darkness. The world tilted around her again and the sensation of falling overcame her she squealed into his mouth and clung to him for dear life. When the spinning stopped she broke away from him and stumbled back. Aeros did not take his eyes from her as the familiar surroundings made her own eyes widen in shock.

A door slammed and a pair of rough hands seized her from behind. She was too shocked to do anything but scream until a cold blade pressed against her throat before any sound could escape. She was spun around to find Errewyn sitting in one of the small wooden chairs grinning at her like a cat with a bowl full of cream.

“I was wondering when you would finally grace us with your presence daughter” A familiar female voice snarled in her ear.

“Mother?” She tried to turn around, but the blade pressed harder against her throat. Lianna felt the sticky liquid trickle down her neck. Her dragon tried to rear up in protest, but Lianna choked it down. Her heartbeat skidded in her chest as fear as she had never known clamped her gut.

“What do you want?” She demanded of the king sitting at her table. Aeros walked around her and her eyes narrowed at him in stunned disbelief. A rush of emotions barraged her senses and she did not know what to say or do in light of this stunning betrayal. He had used their bond to trick her into this. Just as she opened her mouth to demand an explanation the king interrupted her.

“Thank you Sorea, I knew you could get her to come to me after I saw the way she looked at you in the palace.” He nodded to the dark lord beside him and then turned his attention back to her. “When I returned from the mines, you were nowhere to be found. You had disappeared along with that wolf pup you had inquired about the night before and I knew you would cause me trouble. Of course, I had no idea where you would go, or that you would destroy all of my hard work,” His voice became ferocious “so I contacted your mother. Turns out you were not lying about your upbringing as I had first thought.” Errewyn sighed dramatically.

“Although I am sorry about that. Had I known you existed, I would have brought you to the castle and reared you like the princess you are. Now, look at you, running around half-naked with a bunch of forest creatures who would probably rip your throat out while you slept if they thought they would gain anything from it.” He looked like he believed the words that came out of his fat face. Lianna snarled at him in response.

“Don’t look at me like that, surely Sorea has just proven that statement as fact.” The fat monarch rose from the table and gestured broadly in Aeros’s direction. The male in question just watched her with a blank stare, his hands folded together behind his back as if he were at a dinner party and not a part of this kidnapping. She had no words for him yet.

“You said you would help them. But you are enslaving them and starving them! And poisoning the land with your filth!” She spat at him. “What gives you the right to do such things?”

“I am King!” He roared at her, taking a step closer. Lianna did not flinch but her mother did, and the knife pricked her neck with a sharp sting. “I will do what I please, and rule this continent as one kingdom instead of a divided nation. Those humans have pushed us out of our own lands and made us into cowards, hiding on the other side of the mountains.” He said passionately.

“We left Errewyn!”

“Only because they were jealous and scared, and would not allow us to live peaceably! And it’s ‘father’ to you, young lady!” He countered angrily.

“I would sooner die than live under your roof and call you father!” She flung at him. “Those humans in that village were better to me than my own mother was.” Lianna snapped back. “And the beasts in that forest are better family than you could ever offer.”

Her eyes darted to Aeros who looked bored of the whole conversation and she wanted to claw his eyes out for his part in this. Some strange emotion flashed across his face, his eyes narrowed and a muscle ticked in his jaw. She turned back to the king as he took a deep breath, visibly wrestling for control of his temper.

“Well, you might as well get used to it, I can’t very well leave you to traipse about the mountains, rallying an army to challenge me can I? You have already set me back several years with the destruction of my main source of ammunition. And I was working on a solution for the poison when you so rudely distracted Sorea. Seems he has found a way to clean the water.” Lianna’s eyes widened at that. She had no idea what Aeros had been up to. Is that why he had left the dragons keep? She looked to him in question and he simply shrugged as if it was unimportant.

“Now that I have you safely in hand and a solution to the pollution, I need you to tell me where the dragon is.” His eyes turned hard and malicious. He didn’t know. Her eyes flew back to Aeros, as she thought about what to say to his demands. Her eyes narrowed, why hadn’t he told the king that she was the dragon? The woman’s hands tightened on her arms and jerked her back.

“Answer him, Lianna.” She commanded.

“Why mother?” She asked. “You left me nearly a decade ago and I have heard nothing from you since that day. Why did you poison me? Why didn’t you tell me who I was; what I was?”

“For your own good of course. I couldn’t exactly hide a Fae as powerful as you, even here in the mountains. One of the villagers might have noticed and you would have caused problems I could not explain. So, I bribed the baker woman to make you special bread and tried to forget what you were.” Serena laughed as if it was obvious.

“Women have babies all the time. I did my duty by you and then went back to the king. Why would I stay in this hovel, when I can live in a palace and be waited on hand and foot? You have a lot to learn about the world Lianna if you think this is the best it has to offer.”

“Enough! Where is the dragon, Lianna?” Errewyn interrupted, nearly shouting.

“I … I don’t know.” She stammered, staring at Aeros, begging him silently to do something. Her mother’s harsh words ringing in her ears were like a slap to the face. She knew there was no love lost, but hearing Serena say it out loud was like a knife through her heart.

She could feel her mate’s power humming inside her head, but she would not give him away. She would not sell him to this king as he had done her. And suddenly, she knew that that is what he wanted. He wanted her to tell the king that he was the dragon. Her fear was a tangible thing. She had to do something. She watched his eyes widen in shock as he heard every thought flying through her head. Lianna did not care. Let him think what he would. He had betrayed her and she wanted nothing else from him, would die before she let him touch her again. But she would be damned if she let Errewyn touch him either.

“Come on, where is all that fire, that passion you exuded at the castle? I was mighty impressed that you had the balls to stand up to me then. Seems I was mistaken in claiming you as my daughter. I can taste your fear.” He shook his head in disgust and looked to Aeros,

“I thought you said she would talk? Seems your judgment of character has gone lax over the years old man. I can see why you wanted her so bad, but she seems to be kind of weak compared to what I have seen you with before.” His words snapped something inside of Lianna. She was not weak. She was a dragon. And she would burn them all for this.

“No.” Her back straightened, the blade biting deeper into her neck as her beast clawed to get free, to save her. She let the pressure build and build, and she could feel the air around her turn steamy in reaction.

“No what, Lianna?” The king lifted two red eyebrows as he turned back towards her.

“I am not your daughter. I will not let you continue to kill my people and destroy everything you touch.” Steam began curling from her nostrils. Her pupils elongated and became glowing orbs in her pale face.

“I will not let you destroy my dragon and decimate my land.” Her eyes narrowed and her hair began to spark as she let the power build inside of her like a tidal wave. She felt Errewyns power jump out at her own, but he was too late. She watched his eyes widen in astonishment.

“I am the dragon.” She smirked releasing her hold on the beast and it burst from her in a wall of flames that shot out in all directions. Serena immediately let go of her with a scream. The woman dropped to the floor rolling and still screaming, as the flames devoured her. Errewyn threw up a shield of his own weaker flames and tried to run for the door.

Aeros slammed into him with a roar of black fury and blasted the whole interior of the cabin with his dark power. In a flash he shifted, blinding them all momentarily, causing the king’s shield to collapse. His agonized screams joined Serena’s and Lianna ran towards the open door, sobbing tears that felt like molten lava on her face.

She escaped into the open air and turned to watch the cottage she grew up in go up in a blazing inferno. The blistering heat roared its justice, drowning out the screams of the people she left inside to burn. Lianna hit the ground. Her knees cracking loudly with the impact.

Aeros was suddenly there in front of her, his arms wrapping around her like steel cords. She collapsed into him heaving her tangled emotions into his chest. She watched as the roof collapsed, sending a shower of sparks flying out over the open area around the house. The window shattered and the front wall caved in. Her parents had stopped screaming, but she could hear their horrible echoes still ringing in her ears. Reality hit her with a force that knocked the wind from her chest and she shoved away from him with a screech.

“You betrayed me!” She choked. She spun away from him in rage, unable to bear the sight of him, of what he had done to her. She gagged violently and threw up the contents of her stomach on the grass. She felt her mates’ gentle hands pull her hair back out of the way and she threw herself away from him.

“Do not touch me!” She screamed, her hair billowed around her in wild flames and he took a step back raising his hands in surrender.

“Why?” She demanded. “Why would you do that? Was it not enough for you to betray your sister so long ago? Has your soul become so black that you must manipulate me and send me to my death as well? I am not your sister! I am not some bit of glass to move around on a chessboard! I am Lianna Bloodstone, Dragon Queen of the Fae, and I will kill you for betraying me as you did!” She lunged for him in a flash and her dragon hit him with the full force of her rage. His black shape grew and he snapped at her, his giant paw swatting her back.

Lianna screeched in defiance, as his claws raked down her forearm, and blood welled to the surface. Flames shot from her mouth and she slammed into a pocket of wind, jumping into the air and flipping over him. She landed behind him and her teeth sank into the back of his neck with a bone-crunching grip, her movement too quick for him to follow. He roared in fury and pain as she sank her teeth into his dull black scales. There was no room for rational thought in her brain as the beast’s instincts took over and she was only fighting on pure undiluted rage. Aeros vibrated beneath her and a ripple of black flame stung her, causing her to let go abruptly. He jumped up and whirled around as she flickered back into sight. Her green eyes narrowed at him and still, he showed no signs of emotion at all. It was as if the male she had come to know had disappeared again and in his place, a dark creature who could not be reasoned with.

“You used our bond to get to me.” She threw at him. “The least you could do is tell me why.” She sent a wall of invisible flames hurtling down the bond so fast that he had no time to react as her power struck his mind. He flinched and shook his head trying to break loose from the white-hot heat that nearly boiled his skull. He shifted into his fae form and Lianna watched as his hands wrapped around his head and he rolled on the ground in agony. She had no sympathy and her beast watched with righteous vindictiveness.

She eased her grip on his mind enough for him to stop writhing on the ground like a worm.

“Tell me why!” She demanded again. His face slowly looked up at her and she saw the outrage and fear in his eyes.

“I knew you would kill them. I hoped you would kill me too. I knew you would not let them break you as they broke me. They took everything from me. My family, my home, my beast hid inside me like a frozen mouse every time I see him. All I can see is the image of Ainslee hanging from the palace walls, her life’s blood slowly dripping out of her into those barrels. I had nothing and no one else to live for after he took her from me.” His voice broke and Lianna hated the bond that made every ounce of his pain surge through her like a knife.

“Then I saw you, and I knew what you were that first time in the village. I knew but did not dare to hope that you had come to save us all from his sadistic tyranny. But you were so wild and so young, I did not think that you were a match for him. He had centuries of experience on his side and knew how to hit you where it hurt. Then You were at his palace and demanding that he do something about the mines and the people. You were amazing and I could not help but be drawn to you, especially when I realized you were to be my mate.” Lianna turned from him, trying to hold on to her anger, even as his words and emotions sliced through it with a crippling effect.

“ When you invited the wolves into the dragon’s keep and made plans to destroy him, I knew you were the only one who would be able to defeat him. He had no hold over you, when you looked at him all you saw was a fat old man stuffing his face. I remember your disgust and outrage just as vividly as I remember him standing over my sister, sword in hand as he delivered the final blow.” The agonized sorrow in his voice brought her around to face him again and her heart melted in the face of it. She felt herself shift numbly under the weight of his stare.

“I knew you were coming here today. I went to warn you, but you distracted me, and I couldn’t think straight when you touched me and I lost control. And then I just wanted it to be over with. I would not let him hurt you, but you did not need my protection.” He stood and walked over to her. She raised her arms and backed away.

“Stay away from me Aeros. You will not get close enough to betray me again.” She snarled. Even if she was beginning to understand the reasons that had led to it. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she whirled around in time to see the armored men running up the southern trail towards them. Aeros shifted behind her, his dark aura pulsing around her in an invisible shield.

The men stopped in their tracks, faces contorted in horror and fear. Aeros growled a warning. One of them stepped forward, taking in the burning cabin and the giant beast that stood at Lianna’s back. The angry red welts that ran along her right arm from shoulder to wrist. Her short dress was singed in places and barely held on to her in tattered shreds. She could taste the man’s fear and the ax shook in his hand.

“Lianna?” He called nervously. She looked around at the scene unfolding and something inside her went numb. She saw them but momentarily felt as if she was drowning in emotions she was too exhausted to sort through.

“Lianna!” The man shouted. Her head came up slowly and surprise registered in her features as she took in her group of would-be saviors. Aeros stepped back and Lianna stood between him and the men.

“Sir John? Hughe..? What are you doing here?” Her trembling voice was raw and confused.

“We heard the roars, and then saw the smoke…” Sir John shrugged, his gaze darting to the dragon standing behind her, then to the giant cats that stalked into the clearing near the creek. He swallowed but did not lower his ax.

“We came to see if you needed some assistance.” His voice was steady, if a bit off-pitch.

“You came to rescue me?” She could barely breathe. The knight shook his head in affirmation.

“Are you okay?” He asked her gently.

“Yes.” She nodded weakly, “but my mother, and Errewyn….” She trailed off. She could not speak of it yet.

“We saw your mother pass through the village two days ago. We thought that was a bit odd. Haven’t seen her in what..? Ten years. She stopped by the bakers, was in there for but a few moments, and left the place without any bread. I thought it was kind of funny, so I went and had a chat with Mrs. Penny. She had an odd story to tell.” He raised his eyebrows in question. When Lianna did not reply he continued his story.

“She said she had been feeding you bad bread since you were naught but a child. Says your mother paid her a goodly sum to do it. How does the Fae King play into this?” He waved his ax towards the burning cottage.

Lianna looked at them. They had known she was not one of them and had come to save her anyway. They were terrified of her companions, but none backed down. They were true knights in every sense of the word.

“He was my father. And he is.” She stopped herself “He was responsible for the poison in the water, and the disappearing people.” Lianna watched as they all digested her words with stunned expressions.

“Who burned the house down?” Sir Hughe asked.

“I did.” She claimed. The dubious glances told her without words that they did not believe her, especially with a dragon standing so near. So, she did the only thing she could think of. She shifted.

Their shouts would have made her laugh if she had not just been through such an ordeal. Steam curled from her long snout, and her wings flared out gracefully before she pulled them into her sides. Her long-plated tail whipped around her and she stood in all her golden glory before them. Some of the men jumped back, others fell to their knees in awe. Sir John, the only one who had ever acknowledged her presence only stared at her silent wonder.

She shifted back into her fae form and stepped closer. He did not back away.

“There are camps. Slave camps nestled along the southern side of the mountain chain. We have destroyed all of the ones to the North. Your king made a deal with Errewyn, they were going to blow a trail through the mountains and join our kingdoms. The ammunition they intended to use has poisoned the water in most places. You will find all the missing people in those camps.” Lianna explained the situation as best as she could, hoping he would not turn from her in disgust.

“We will not hurt you. Or any human who promises to stand against King Henry in his attempt to destroy our home and enslave our people. King Errewyn is dead.” She raised her chin as the Fae around her flashed into their own less terrifying forms and came to stand at her back.

“I am Lianna, Queen of the Fae, and I offer you peace between our people if you will help us to stop this madness.” Her voice rang clear and true through the valley.

“Send a messenger to your king and tell him what happened here. Tell him he will be next if he takes one more man. I will burn his castle to the ground myself if any more poison gets dumped into the water.” Lianna watched the men look at each other in silence. She knew they were debating whether or not to trust her. Sir John lowered his ax and knelt to the ground. Bowing his head in respect.

“I shall send your message, Majesty.” He stood. “And we will send riders out to find the camps you speak of.” He looked at the four males standing at her back with a wary eye.

“It seems like you are well guarded, Lianna.” He said it with respect to the girl he had known, who had disappeared and now stood before him a queen in her own right. He nodded his head one more time and then turned back to the canyon and the village that had kept them all safe from the scheming monarchs up to this point.

When they finally disappeared from view, Lianna turned around to see Seth, Lucas, Nathaniel, and Aeros watching her like she was some sort of animal they had never encountered.

“Errewyn is dead.” She told them flatly. They just nodded.

She looked to the cottage that was now barely more than a pile of charred wood, smoldering with glowing embers. She spent her whole life in that cabin. Everything she had ever learned about hunting and fishing and surviving on her own was now in ashes on the ground. She looked at Aeros for a moment, before turning away in disgust. She had given herself to him and he had betrayed her without a second thought.

“I want to go home.” She said simply turning to Seth. She walked into his arms and sagged against him. Her tears were all spent, and her body exhausted after the events of the afternoon. She didn’t know how long she stood there, leaning into his strength. When she finally felt like she could stand no longer, her knees buckled beneath her and he caught her up against him. Lianna felt the darkness close in around her and barely heard the growling males as she slipped into oblivion.

Lianna came awake slowly, her eyes were crusted shut and she had to rub the dried salt from them before they would open. Memories of the previous day came flooding back and she sat up, looking around. She was in her chamber at the Dragon’s Keep. Panic began to flutter to life in her breast, what happened? How did she get here? She jumped out of bed and ran for the door. The large wooden panel swung open before she could reach it and Aeros emerged from the other side carrying a steaming cup of chocolate in his hand.

He stopped and took in her appearance. His face softened and he set the cup down on the small wooden table near the door. He strode toward her and stopped mere feet away, waiting for her reaction to his presence in her chambers

“You betrayed me.” She whispered. “What are you doing here?” Her voice was paper-thin as if all of her strength had gone up in smoke with her parents the day before.

“I brought you home because you asked me to.” He answered.

“I asked you for no such thing. I would not have. I want nothing else from you. I gave you every part of me and you passed me to him like a prize you had won.” Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Where is Seth? Nathaniel and Lucas?” She demanded.

“They elected to travel on their own and I left them behind to await the refugees that were in route. They may be on their way here as we speak.” His eyes caressed her face and she felt the heat of his gaze like lightning streaking through her. He stepped closer. She brought up her hands to hold him back.

“Don’t touch me!” She snarled. “I can not help my body’s reaction to you but I will be damned if I let you touch me again. It is more likely that you moved us here before any of them could stop you, the same way you took advantage of me in the forest!"

“Lianna, please, you must understand, I did what I had to do to end this madness.” The desperate look on his face made her feel nauseated. He took a step closer.

“Let me apologize, and make it up to you.” He begged. She felt his aura slide gently over her skin, embracing her with his power like a lover. Her skin tingled and she sucked in a breath of hot air.

“It’s over now, you won. Errewyn is gone and we can begin our life together. Let me show you how it can be without the threats weighing us down.” He cajoled.

“No Aeros, the threat never weighed me down. You manipulated and betrayed me and now you expect me to forget it and move on!? With you? Until you decide to run away again like the coward you are and hide behind someone else, so you do not have to face what you have done?” She demanded, her voice getting louder with every word until she was nearly shouting in his face.

“I should banish you from my kingdom for this.” She spat at him.

“Lianna no, please, just give me one chance to prove myself to you. I will not try to touch you or pressure you into anything else I swear.” Her beast sniffed in disbelief, but only truth emanated from him, broken and shriveled as it was. She found the part of herself that felt sorry for him. The small part of her that refused to let her beast’s wrath take over and make a mockery of her humanity.

“I killed them because I knew they would try to kill you and my friends.” She stated. “I did not care that you had betrayed me, or that they were my parents. Only the thought of them taking you all away from me was enough to make me forget all of my fears and burn them to ash. You may be my mate, but I will not tolerate any more betrayal from you. These people took me in and cared for me when no one else would. Everyone lost people in the old wars and lived with their demons in their own ways. But they never once made me regret taking their offer of friendship.” She stepped closer to him and allowed herself to feel the bond that she had accepted the day before. She felt where it was attached somewhere deep in her gut and ran mental talons lovingly along the golden length until her fingers reached out and touched his chest where she felt it wrap around his own soul. She knew he held his breath as he waited for her to continue.

A sense of destiny rolled within her and she closed her eyes to listen to her beasts voice. When she opened them again a small, sad smile curved her lips.

"Aeros you must leave the Bloodstone mountains and never return. I still have people who need me and I can not trust you. If you return I will have you burned alive." Her voice was emotionless even to her own ears but resonated with a conviction even he could understand. She felt a wall lock into place around her heart and mind, Her cold disdain open for him to see. I crashing sound came from her antechamber and they both spun around in time to see a breathless maid barrel through her doorway. Lianna felt the fear and desperation pouring off of her and dreaded the news.

"What is it?"

"They have been taken, Majesty!" she panted. "The Guards!" The girl was bent over, heaving her broken story towards the floor.

"Seth?" Lianna felt the panic rise within her. "Who? WHO took them?" She grabbed the girl by the shoulders and lifted her up, shaking her roughly.

"The human king your highness!" She cried. She pulled away and Lianna let her go. Dark rage began building up and she turned on Aeros.

"You! You did this!" She accused.

"Me? How? I was with you!" He defended himself. His beautiful face was a mask of angry confusion

"You took me away and I was not there for them when they needed me!" Her hair swirled around her in a crackling inferno and her eyes became reptilian slits of wrath.

"You can not blame this on me Lianna, I am your mate!" Aeros's own anger began to pulse around them and the maid backed away slowly.

"I do blame you and you need to leave at this very moment if you still value your life." Her fury was barely contained and her beast was urging her to rip him to shreds.

"Lianna!" Eris came running through the door momentarily distracting her. He stopped short when he saw the two of them. The atmosphere in the room was tense with violent emotions and he visibly swallowed when he realized that the two dragons were ready to tear into each other. The poor maid ran passed him, fleeing the scene.

"Lianna?" Eris gently called to her. "Is everything okay?"

"This beast" She spat in Aeros' direction "has betrayed me. And because he once again took advantage of my weakness, our friends are now captive to the human king!" Her chest was heaving with anger, her power was rolling out from her in waves that were almost suffocating. Eris took a step forward, placing a cool hand on her arm. Trying to calm the air between them. He let the ice in his veins swell up and reach for her. He had come with the same news and more, but right now she needed to calm down before she did something she may regret.

"I will not regret what I am about to do. What I have done." She read his mind before turning back towards Aeros. Eris watched in fascinated horror as she stalked over to him. Catrione and Sylva came rushing in behind him. He threw his hand up to stop them.

"Get out!"She raged. She lifted her palm up towards him and fire shot from her hand. The air simmered around her and Aeros backed away a step as his dark aura pulsed and the fire was absorbed into it as if it never existed. His face was a blank mask of dark rage as he nodded once and then simply disappeared into a dark cloud. The air around them felt charged as the dark cloud dissipated until with a loud crack it was gone altogether.

Lianna stood there staring blankly at the place he had been merely moments before. Seth approached her slowly, stopping when she suddenly whirled to face him. The stricken look on her face made him want to hold her.

"What happened Eris?" She asked in a voice that was nearly toneless.

"You just feinted." He said simply. At her blank expression he continued. "One of the gaurds at the den saw you disappear into the dark with Aeros and told Dorius and I at once. We left for your cabin and arrived in time to find Seth and Aeros at each others throats. Aeros insisted on bringing you back here, Dorius wanted him to wait until you woke up. We could smell the mating bond all over you both and there was really not much we could do to stop him. He is one of the oldest creatures among us. He is a dragon. He is your mate." The last of his words were sneered at her and she felt shame because of them.

"I am so sorry Eris. I was blinded by the strength of the bond and it just happened. He betrayed me." Her beautiful green eyes filled with tears and he could feel her beast trembling with emotion.

"Immediately afterward he, took us to the cabin where Errewyn and Serena were waiting." Her voice broke and he strode forward to catch her before she collapsed. Sobbing into his chest she clutched his shirt and he just held her. When her tears were spent she lifted her head and offered him a watery smile.

"We waited there at the cabin until the camp was set up. Some of the village men had gone out to scout for more camps. Seth, Lucas and Nethanial went into the village to offer there assistance. The kings men were waiting for them. Somehow they knew already. They attacked them. By the time Dorius and I made it to the village they were all captured. They had weapons that I have never heard of before. Smoke bombs that put everyone to sleep. It was hours before the air cleared and we could even search for anyone. The village was ransacked, and they left no one behind." His face was drawn in worry lines and he was concerned about how her current mental state would cope with the news.

"Dorius followed them. They may have made it back to the castle by now." He finished his tale, watching her closely.

Catrione and Sylva stood there watching, they had not said a word for the entire scene. The older woman cleared her throat quietly.

Lianna turned to her and fresh tears began pouring from her eyes.

"What do I do?" She asked her helplessly.

"Go get them dear, and bring them home. The human king is still only human. You are a dragon. Straighten your crown and go be a queen."