Page 13 of Unexpected Mate

Whine about it all you want, but you were born for more. Today is just the beginning.

Beasty and her sucky pep talks, just what a girl wanted while she waited to find out if she had started a war with the wizards, shortly before she had to leave to take out a murdering piece of dog crap who was determined to take power that did not belong to him in order to take over the world like an old-school cartoon villain. How was this my life now?

“The council spent many long hours last night discussing your requirements for our continued alliance,” said Gregor. “Our elders were given the chance to view nadir customs through an outsider’s eyes; something that hadn’t been done in centuries. Overwhelming disgust and sorrow plagues them now. The council wishes to thank you for risking so much tohelp members of the wizard community. All contracts regarding the nadir will be reviewed, and they will have the option to renegotiate or cancel those agreements. At this moment, the council is working to ensure that fair housing, career, and study options are made available. An apology to the nadir is being aired in the community as we speak. It will take some time, but the changes are already in motion.”

Gregor stood and turned toward Leo, whose gentle eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Gregor crossed his arm across his chest, his fist pressed against his heart.

“The council, the wizards present, and I myself, all wish to apologize for our behavior toward you. Your skills have been an incredible asset within our community, and yet you never received acknowledgement of that fact. The disrespect with which you have been treated, intentionally or unintentionally, was unacceptable. Our council is grateful for your offer to work on cases for them in the future. If you chose to accept, they will pay handsomely for your skills and time. The marking between you and Tia was a shock to the council; they are confused by it. Bonds to mates outside of the wizard community are always discussed with the council first and only completed once they receive approval. This applies to all wizards. Scholars are researching the mating mark you left on Tia’s neck, and the council wishes to have the pleasure of you and your mate’s company once they have information to share. At this time, the contract with Elani is void.”

Leo stood still, at a loss for words. Cool relief flowed across my frayed nerves, and hope soared in my heart. Things were changing.

Elani stepped forward, keeping her head bowed. “Leo and Tia, I am sorry for my behavior and blatant disrespect of the mate bond in your home,” she said. “I wish you both happiness.”

“We are proud to call your circle our allies,” added Gregor, “and we are ready to follow you into battle.”

My stomach turned at the word “battle”, my almost forgotten nightmare flashing through my mind. No, it wouldn’t be anything like that bloody scene created by an anguished mind. This was a stealth mission; no muss, no fuss. Raw fear began to tighten a fist around my heart, and a tsunami of anxiety threatened to drown me beneath it.

You are the dragoness of the sea - a tsunami could not kill you. Focus on now, worry will have you second guessing your every action and that could be deadly.

Dang. When had Beasty gone from crazy nymphomaniac to wise sensei?

Hardy, har, har.Her tone dripped with sarcasm, and I smiled.

I stepped forward with my arm outstretched. Gregor met me and we clasped our forearms together, prepared to fight side by side. Slowly, each wizard rose from their kneeling position and stepped forward to offer their arm, and each time I clasped it tightly against my own. Elani also stepped forward; her arm shook a little as she held it out. Without hesitation, I extended my arm and clasped hers just as firmly as I had with the men.

“I know you will find the happiness that I have found with Leo, and it will be more than you hoped for,” I said.

Her eyes met mine, and for the first time that morning she smiled back at me.

“I know I will,” she replied. “I just hope I don’t have to wait forever. Our species live an awful long time!” Her lilting laughter broke the lingering tension between us, and I couldn’t resist laughing with her. It was so true; my Mithraheal had waited many human lifetimes for his soulmate, me. I caught his eye and blew him a kiss. The elegant king of the blood driven lifted his hand, pretending to catch my kiss, and then pressed it to his lips.

My anxiety became joy, and hope fluttered inside me. Running, I threw myself onto Luke’s back. In a swift motion, I freed my sword and lifted it into the air screaming: “Forward into battle, my noble stead!”

My playful moment with my mate was taken far too seriously by the wizards and my ears rang with the whistles of swords slicing the air as they were quickly drawn. Luke and Levi threw back their heads and released an eerie howl that echoed in the lush valley below. The wizards joined with their own battle cry. It was a sound the raised the hair on my arms; one that movie producers could never reproduce.

My noble stead took off, ready for battle, and I whooped as I bounced on his back… all the way to the sleek black SUV.

Abead of sweat ran down the length of my spine. It was only mid-morning, but the sun was already beating down on the earth mercilessly. Deep breath in, deep breath out. I worked to steady my frantic heart, which was currently attempting to slam out of my chest. Within hours, I would be at home with my mates, snuggling and eating pizza.

Let’s bring the house down, so we can get back to our house and go down!

I choked on my own spit. Mithraheal let out an unmanly squeak next to me, and I knew Beasty had once again sent her thoughts into the bond for all my boys to hear.

It gives them a reason to hurry this up, she whispered conspiratorially, while still projecting her every word in the bond.

I wanted to scold her, but frankly, I had missed her ridiculous remarks the past few weeks and it was a relief to have her nonsense cut through the tension.

Aw! I love you too, Teacup!

Okay, I was going back to ignoring her. I closed my eyes, allowing my magic to sweep across the ground unseen. I had discovered that my dragon magic differed greatly from other magic, meaning Draven wouldn’t be able to detect it as I sent out subtle tendrils.

With my eyes closed, I mapped out everyone’s location; my dragon giving me a rough grid-line guide of the area surrounding me, and energy signatures for the living things nearby. Each of the men were in position, simply waiting for my cue to move on the building and guards. Focusing on the members of my team, I spoke directly into their minds.

It’s time. Stick to the plan and don’t take unnecessary risks. Move. Now!

I ducked out from the thick hedges that had hidden me. I grabbed Gregor’s arm and, using my dragon strength and speed, I flashed to the building, hauling the wizard with me with Mithraheal right on my heels. We were careful to stay out of the cameras’ line of sight as we moved swiftly down the side of the wall.

I touched Levi’s and Luke’s minds to check their progress. They had taken down the guards with ease, and their wolves were nearly salivating to have more of a challenge. I moved to Leo, butterflies fluttering in my stomach at the intimacy of touching minds with my new mate. My life had been utter chaos, and I was nearly desperate to have time alone witheach of my mates to learn more about them. Leo and I had spent less than seventy-two hours together and had only exchanged broken bits of conversation before that. The soulmate, or fated mate, bond was incredible, allowing me to feel closer to these men than I had felt to anyone in my life. They were literally a piece of my soul. But now, I wanted to know them, not just their bodies.

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