Dance of Wings, page 43
part #1 of The Dragon Portal Series
“What do you mean?” Sabine asked, taking a step closer to him.
“The Emerald Clan are our strongest allies because we share blood ties through my mother’s line,” Malek explained. “She was born to the Emerald Clan, and both of our clans currently call the floating island of Kavi our home. Many of our interests align, and the relationship between the Obsidian and Emerald Clans have been mutually beneficial for centuries.”
“I see,” Sabine said, her expression becoming thoughtful. “And what of your clan’s other allies?”
Malek hesitated. “Our next strongest allies are those of the Ruby and Amethyst clans. While my grandparents claimed kinship with both of those clans, our relationship with the Ruby Clan became strained after my grandmother, Bryona, was killed and my grandfather took Elisa as his new mate. The Ruby clan felt it was a betrayal to my grandmother’s memory.”
Rika frowned and glanced at Sabine. “Were they upset because Elisa was fae?”
Sabine started to pull her hand away, but Malek held it tightly. “They’ll have less of an issue with Sabine and more of a problem with Bane,” he said. “My grandparents, along with my father, fought at the Battle of Blainrial Forest. Bryona was killed by demons. After my grandmother’s death, my father and grandfather fell into battlelust. My father’s dragon, and his instincts, have never fully retreated since that day.”
Malek gestured to the side of his face. “His scar and golden eye serve as a constant reminder of all that was lost that day.”
Bane’s eyes turned silver as he picked up another weapon. He ran the sharpening stone across the edge of the blade and said, “Thousands of demons met their demise during the Battle of Blainrial Forest. Kal’thorz was displeased. The commander of that battle was executed. He never should have lost our positioning.”
Malek narrowed his eyes on Bane. “Were you there?”
“No,” Bane said, studying the sharpened edge of his blade.
“Do not press him on this, Malek,” Sabine said silently. “As Kal’thorz’s eldest surviving son, he holds many of the memories his father passed down to him. Some of these are not his own, but he lives them as though they were. He does not discuss the past without great cause.”
Malek stared at her in stunned astonishment. He knew the demons had some sort of link between them. He’d suspected it was similar to the mind-touch ability to communicate over vast distances. If they had a way of inheriting shared memories and even strategy, it was no wonder the demons had been so successful at thwarting them for centuries.
Sabine had just offered him information that had the potential to shift the balance of power. It was information offered freely, but he knew enough about the fae to know there was an implied debt. He glanced over at Bane, suspecting the demon had agreed to share this information in exchange for equally valuable information about tonight’s festivities. That damned demon was far too clever.
Malek squeezed Sabine’s hand in understanding and said, “Before my people came to Aeslion, these clan alliances didn’t exist. Dragons are solitary creatures, and we traveled the ether as we saw fit. Our only loyalty was to our mates and our families. Living in close proximity has forced us to adapt and change. In many ways, we’ve had to suppress our true natures. Otherwise, we’d end up killing one another. While many of us have divided loyalties internally, all of us will band together if attacked from the outside.”
Sabine tilted her head. “How have you adapted and changed?”
“We spend much more time in human form,” Levin grumbled, tugging on his collar.
Malek nodded. “That’s definitely part of it. But more, we’ve had to emulate some human behaviors. That’s part of the reason we’ve allowed them to remain nearby. Where we would once simply acquire what we wanted or needed, we’ve made an effort to study and model our behavior after theirs. We trade with the humans now. We hire them to perform tasks that hold little interest for us. We offer them protection in exchange for certain concessions.” He chuckled. “My mother enjoys pretending to be one of the great human ladies who drinks tea in the afternoons.”
“Most of Lady Nymira’s tea parties end with broken dishes or fire erupting on the carpet,” Levin added with a grin.
“We’re still dragons,” Malek said with a shrug. “No matter how much we might appear civilized to some of the humans who live here, we aren’t and never will be. We’re possessive, territorial, and more likely to tear out an enemy’s throat if they attempt to harm someone under our protection or steal from us. Whenever the humans forget that simple fact, one of us never fails to remind them.”
“You’re not like that,” Rika said with a frown.
“Levin and I were born on Aeslion. We’ve had an easier time adapting. Suppressing our instincts has been ingrained since childhood.” He pressed his hand on his chest. “But all of us feel the ache as though something fundamental is missing.”
Sabine placed her hand over his, her touch settling something within him. “It’s the lack of connection to the ether—the imbalance in the world you feel?”
Malek nodded. “The Tuatha Dé were considered gods because none could challenge them. We were much the same. Any who challenged us were destroyed. We were the opposing balance to the Tuatha Dé, the counterpoint to their magic. They created worlds and made them flourish, while we purged the excess to maintain the balance and prepare the way for new life. As long as we’re trapped here, we’re unable to fulfill our purpose. If we burn too much of Aeslion’s magic, there’s no one left to create new life.”
“You’re slowly being suffocated,” Esmelle said, moving closer to Levin. He put his arm around her, tucking her against his side.
“That’s an apt description,” Malek said. “We require both magic and ether to exist. Without the ether, we’re burning through more of Aeslion’s magic. Part of the reason for this clan gala is to reaffirm our loyalties to one another. If we don’t make an effort to conserve our magic or find a way to access the ether, my people will cease to exist.”
Sabine leaned into him, her love and concern for him echoing across their bond in an intimate caress. The dragonscale armband flared brightly as he pulled her closer and surrounded her with his power. Ever since he’d found her, the ache he’d always felt had diminished. Sabine was like a balm for his soul, healing what had been missing from his life.
“Our reconnaissance was cut short yesterday,” Bane said, bringing Malek’s attention back to the matter at hand. “What areas of the estate do we need to be concerned with?”
“Most of the lower floor will be open to the guests, including the gardens. The gala typically lasts for most of the night, but we can leave after an hour or two without raising too many eyebrows. I don’t intend to leave Sabine’s side while we’re there.”
Bane gave him a curt nod.
“Levin says we’ll enter separately,” Esmelle said to Sabine. “You and Malek will go in first, then Rika and Aeron, as her escort. Levin and I will follow. We’ll mingle for a bit before we all head to the area designated for the Obsidian Clan.”
“Greater dragons and their immediate family always enter a room first,” Malek explained. “In battle, our fires burn the brightest and lead the way through the darkness.”
Thalassa said, “By entering the gala at Lord Malek’s side, you will be acknowledging your intended place as his mate, Aderylin. Until you complete the ceremony with him, you will be in grave danger.” She said the last with a hint of fear.
Aeron took her hand and whispered something quietly in her ear. The aderyan woman took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.
Sabine nodded. “Very well. Is there anything else?”
Malek lifted her hand and kissed it. “Just follow my lead. You won’t be facing anything alone.”
CHAPTER 44
Sabine took Malek’s arm as they approached his parents’ estate. The building was ablaze with dragonfire urns and ancient Faerie lanterns. Music, voices, and laughter carried on the wind, indicating the revelry had already begun. The number of wyvern guards at the door, however, had tripled since their last visit.
Bane leaned in close and said, “This is where I leave you, little one. Stay close to your dragon. If he is pulled away for any reason, Aeron will find his way to your side. I’ll be watching from above.”
“May the darkness hide you well,” she murmured, brushing her hand against his arm. She started to accompany her touch with an infusion of magic and then stopped, recalling Malek’s warning about the dreamstone.
“He’ll be all right,” Malek said softly, placing his hand over hers.
She nodded but waited until Bane had disappeared into the shadows before they began climbing the stairs to the entrance. What Bane was doing was risky, but he refused to leave her unprotected with only Malek and Aeron at her side.
A tiny ladybug landed on Sabine’s shoulder.
Sabine glanced at the disguised pixie and asked, “Dare I ask where you’ve been?”
“Nope,” Blossom said. “Plausible deniability.”
Rika winced. “It’s always worrisome when Blossom says that.”
A leathery beat of wings echoed overhead. Sabine stared up at an enormous Emerald dragon. He sliced through the air with the precision of a knife, his golden gaze fixed on their group. At least a dozen other dragons of varying colors circled the estate like sharks eyeing prey. The emerald one dove closer, feinting an attack. Sabine straightened her shoulders and stared him down, refusing to show any weakness. As long as they had the dragon’s attention, he wouldn’t notice Bane.
“He’s showing off, isn’t he?” Rika asked.
Malek narrowed his eyes on the dragon. “Indeed.”
“He’s so sparkly,” Blossom said. “Like a dewdrop on a leaf.”
“Emerald clan?” Sabine asked, noticing small differences to Malek other than the color. Malek was a larger dragon with a tail that ended in a sharpened spike, whereas the emerald dragon’s tail finned at the end.
The dragon’s coloring shifted as he moved over them, reminding Sabine of the hundreds of colors in a forest’s treetop canopy. While Malek could camouflage himself against the night sky, the Emerald dragon would be nearly impossible to see without the sentient Silver trees to warn her people of the danger.
“My cousin, Raynor,” Malek said in a dry tone.
Sabine could dimly hear Malek speaking to someone using his mind-touch ability, but she couldn’t make out the words.
“He’s so pretty,” Blossom said. “Hey Sabine? Maybe I can be a sparkly, green—”
“No,” Sabine said quickly.
“He’s not going to fly around all night, is he?” Rika asked.
Malek glanced over at her. “There’s a permanent landing pad in the rear garden, and two temporary ones located just outside the estate. If Raynor is unable to find his way, I’ve offered to have him escorted to one.”
Levin snorted. “You told him you’d shove the nearest landing pad up his ass if he didn’t stop peacocking.”
Esmelle laughed. “I think it’s a dragon thing. I’ve seen you do the same thing, Levin.”
Sabine arched her brow and watched the dragon. Peacocking, indeed. The green dragon turned again in midair, once more showcasing the brilliance of his emerald scales before disappearing behind the house. The steps beneath Sabine’s feet trembled slightly from his landing. Sparkly or not, it was a wonder how anyone slept with the minor earthquakes dragons caused every time they landed.
Malek cleared his throat and offered his arm to her again. “Shall we?”
They continued ascending the rest of the stairs to the main entrance. At Malek’s approach, the wyvern guards placed their fists over the emblem on their chests. More than a few cast curiosity-filled glances her way, while others held thinly veiled suspicion. If that was the worst scrutiny she received tonight, they might all walk away from the evening unscathed.
Rika’s hand brushed against the hilt of her dagger. “You’re sure Bane will be okay?”
“I’ve already told the clan guards he’ll be on the premises tonight,” Malek said. “As long as he doesn’t draw attention from any other clans, we shouldn’t have a problem.”
“Don’t worry about Bane,” Blossom said in her ladybug form from Sabine’s shoulder. “The pixies and I are on the job tonight!”
Sabine stiffened and gripped Malek’s arm a little tighter. “They’re all here?”
“Yep. All thirty-two of them. We’ve got you covered. Half are pretending to be glowbugs and moths in the gardens while the other half are infiltrating the house as ants, bees, and ladybugs.”
Sabine winced. “You do realize ants may get stepped on?”
Blossom was quiet for a moment. “That might be a problem. I’ll be back.”
The ladybug zipped off her shoulder and went flying down the hall, weaving over and under people’s legs.
“This isn’t going to end well,” Rika muttered.
Malek glanced over at Sabine. “Did she say bees?”
“She did,” Sabine said with a sigh.
“I was not aware the flutterfolk had such a propensity for mischief,” Aeron said quietly.
“That’s an understatement,” Rika said. “Just wait until Blossom ropes you into her shenanigans. You don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late.”
Sabine and Malek entered the main ballroom area. The destruction from yesterday was nowhere to be seen. The broken furniture and rubble had been cleared away, and the ballroom had transformed into a breathtaking masterpiece.
Dwarven-made crystal chandeliers cast their prismatic light across the marble floor. Banners and tapestries depicting each of the emblems of the dragon clans lined the walls, while dragonfire urns flared brightly with their clan colors as each person approached them.
The room buzzed with a mix of dragons and their clan members. Each group clustered in animated conversation, their attire a dazzling array of colors and textures that reflected their elemental affinities. Humans wearing obsidian black moved throughout the room, carrying trays of glasses filled with some sort of dark beverage that swirled with smoke.
“Look, Sabine!” Rika said excitedly, pointing toward the crystal window Sabine had infused with magic. “Lady Nymira made it the focal point for the Obsidian Clan!”
Sabine stared at the window, barely disguising her shock. Each of the different clans appeared to have a designated location set aside throughout the ballroom. The Obsidian Clan’s chosen location was directly beneath the window. Two of the tallest dragonfire urns below the window were already lit and almost made the image of Malek’s father seem alive, reflecting in his scales and in the golden glow of his eyes.
“So much for keeping a low profile,” Malek muttered. “She’s likely already received dozens of inquiries wanting to know who created it. Let’s get this over with.”
As Sabine and Malek made their way through the throng, the air was thick with an exotic blend of aromas from banquet tables overflowing with unfamiliar dishes. Beneath it all was the rich, smoky scent she’d come to associate with dragons.
The music shifted to a livelier tune, and several couples began to glide onto the dance floor, their movements graceful and fluid like the dragons she’d seen in flight. Sabine felt the weight of many eyes upon her, their gazes as piercing as the keenest blade, measuring and assessing. She kept her expression carefully neutral, adopting the court mien she’d perfected as a child. Showing fear or weakness to a room full of predators would be a mistake.
Beneath the crystal window Sabine had infused with elements of her magic, Lord Darius and Lady Nymira appeared to be holding court. They were surrounded by nearly a dozen people, most of them wearing the colors of the Obsidian Clan. Sabine recognized a few of the wyvern guards who had been in attendance when Malek’s father had destroyed the ballroom.
“Shit,” Malek muttered at the sight of a man approaching them.
He was a tall, imposing figure with dark hair and sharp green eyes who wore his power draped around him like a mantle. Many of the onlookers moved out of his way, likely due to the sheer force of his presence. Based on the emerald accents of his rich attire, Sabine guessed this was Malek’s uncle—the same one who had noted their presence in Imenel.
“Malek,” Emanthir said, narrowing his eyes on Sabine. “You dare bring a fae here?”
“Uncle Emanthir,” Malek replied, his tone cool. “Allow me to introduce my mate, Lady Sabine. She’ll be formally joining our clan this evening once we light the urns.”
“Out of the question,” Emanthir said with a low growl. “If she was the cause of the disturbance in Imenel, I’ll see her bound in iron before the night is out.”
Sabine straightened, her magic rising quickly in response to the threat. Malek released her and moved in front of Emanthir. His power punched through the room, just as Aeron stepped beside Sabine in a defensive pose. Several people gasped, and countless heads turned in their direction.
Rika turned and ran toward the Obsidian Clan’s staging area. Sabine put her hand on Aeron’s arm in a silent gesture to hold. Once they revealed themselves, she wasn’t sure all of them would leave this room alive. In this, they would have to trust Malek to diffuse the situation.
“Make a threat against Sabine again, and I’ll see your scales flayed from your body,” Malek warned.
Or maybe not.
“You overstep yourself, Malek,” Emanthir’s voice rumbled, making the ground tremble beneath their feet.
“I haven’t even begun,” Malek said, his skin beginning to glow as though intending to shift. Sabine inhaled sharply and placed her hand on Malek’s back. Her touch had the intended effect, and the glow dimmed.
“Malek,” Nymira exclaimed with forced cheerfulness as she approached with Rika at her side. She kissed Malek’s cheek and said, “I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind about attending.”
“I wasn’t in a hurry to stand around and wait for Kaia,” Malek said, not tearing his gaze away from Emanthir.
