Chapter 3
A t Menelaus’ jubilant greeting, relief rushed through me like a flood of sunlight, sweeping away every doubt that had sprouted like fungus during the long hours of night.
On its heels came a joy, overwhelming and so absolute I could no longer stand in its way.
His arms flung wide to greet me, Menelaus looked at me as if I were still everything he’d once wanted. Suddenly, I was young Princess Jonquil again, running headlong into the unknown, ready to follow him anywhere.
My pulse roared like a storm. My reply tangled in my throat and emerged as a choked sob.
The unaccustomed brightness of hope seared me, burning away years of fear and grief as if by Dragon-fire. My entire being ignited with feeling, even more than it had when I was young, reckless, and sure of love.
The leaden weight encasing my heart fell away and dissolved, until I felt nothing but joy, nothing but love, nothing but hope.
Can this be real? Is it even possible, this return of my life and dreams?
His eyes locked onto mine with love, with longing, with desire .
I craved his touch. His greeting had claimed me. He still belonged to me and I to him.
One step forward, with my back straight and my shoulders back, as befitted a princess-royal.
Then, my body rebelled against the constraints of the rigid self-control that had been drummed into me since childhood.
I forgot Jacinthe, and all the onlookers, and even my hard-won dignity as I lifted my stained skirts and sprinted across the grassy space separating us. Even if I’d wanted to, I couldn’t have stopped myself from running into his outstretched arms.
Memories rushed through me as I neared him. Our love. Our passion. The days we never got to have. My life with him had ended before it began, yet my feet moved as if nothing had ever stopped me, not my fears, not my parents, not my age, certainly not the Duke de Norhas.
We were close now. His golden eyes burned with promise, and he was smiling the wicked grin I remembered so well.
And then he was there, solid and sure and undeniable.
“I had to fake my death,” I managed before he caught me and lifted me.
The sky spun. The world whirled around us as he pulled me tight, so tight, against his impossibly broad chest. Tears of joy blinded me as they overflowed onto my cheeks.
His lips met mine, and it was as if the very world melted around us. His hot mouth held me in a bubble of flame, of life, and I could not think beyond him. My lungs were empty of everything but the brightness of him, of his joy. I gasped at it, clung to it, clung to him, my Dragon, my true love.
And we kissed and kissed and kissed. I clung to him. He was everything I had gone without during the long years of my exile.
He held me like I was real, like I was not a shadow, not an old memory, but real, so real, in his arms. I no longer cared I wasn’t young and beautiful anymore.
The only thing that mattered was that I was here with him. I laughed and sobbed and couldn’t speak a coherent word.
It was madness. It was everything .
When we pulled apart at last, I was breathless and dizzy, and I could still feel the heated imprint of his lips against mine. I gazed up and saw my joy reflected in his eyes. I felt my relief beat with his heart, full and endless.
The Divine Mother had granted all my prayers, even the ones I was too afraid to voice to Her.
And now that Menelaus and I were together once more, I had no idea how to keep us from ever parting again. I only knew that I needed to. Desperately. Fully. Forever.
The only thing bigger than the love we had was the loss of it. We’d both lived with that for too long.
The Twelve Gods couldn’t be so cruel as to force us apart again. They had to give us this. They had to.
Menelaus smiled down at me, his expression tender and joyful. Then his gaze went over my head. “And who have you brought with you, my mate?”
My mate . The sheer possessiveness of that title sent a thrill shooting through my chest like an arrow.
My heart was too full for words, but I had to speak.
I turned in his embrace and found Jacinthe and the others staring at me, wide-eyed with shock. I motioned her forward to join us.
When she reached us, I took her hand and drew her forward.
“Menelaus, my love,” I managed, my throat thick. “I—I have someone very special I want you to meet. This is Jacinthe, our daughter.”
Jacinthe looked apprehensive as Menelaus studied her intently. She had the smooth brown complexion and fiery hair of a Wind-Walker human form, but her hazel eyes and her features were from me.
Menelaus’ face split into a wide, delighted grin.
“Jacinthe, my hatchling!” he boomed, his voice echoing off the canyon walls. “By the Unconquered Sun, look at you! As lovely as your mother, and with my coloring. And I hear you’ve tamed that troublesome fledgling of Aeolia’s, eh?”
He chuckled and glanced at Boreas. The young Wind-Walker ducked his head sheepishly as Lady Aeolia snorted.
Menelaus released me at last and swept past me to enclose Jacinthe in a hearty embrace.
She squeaked in surprise as he lifted her off her feet and kissed both her cheeks.
“Welcome to my aerie, little whirlwind,” he boomed. “I am overjoyed to meet you at last.”
Fresh relief surged through me at his enthusiastic acceptance of the child he’d never met.
I saw Jacinthe’s eyes shine with happy tears of her own. “H-hello, Father,” she ventured, then returned his embrace.
When Menelaus released her, he kept his hands on her shoulders and examined her carefully. I tensed.
Had he discovered some flaw in our perfect daughter? Would he hold her human blood against her, as Aeolia had?
“I sense mage power in you,” he declared. “Tell me, Fledgling Jacinthe, can you wield the Fire magic of our people?”
“Yes.” I saw Jacinthe’s relief as she answered him. She added, with a wry smile, “But I’m still learning to control it. I… I accidentally set fire to my room at Darkstone Academy. Twice.”
I laughed, picturing it. “My love, Jacinthe has a rare gift,” I told Menelaus, eager to share how special she was. “She can draw on the power of all five elements.”
Menelaus looked suitably impressed. “All five? Truly remarkable! I’d expect nothing less from a hatchling of my seed.”
My face flushed at his mention of ‘seed.’ It was followed almost immediately by a twinge of apprehension.
Now that we were reunited, I guessed Menelaus would be eager to reacquaint himself with me… and my body.
And I want that, too, I told myself, pushing down the memory of Beltrán de Norhas’ nightly visits to my bed while I’d been his captive.
Later. I’ll deal with that later.
Like a driver controlling a runaway carriage, I reined in my thoughts and forced them away from the dark paths they wanted to plunge down.
I returned to the conversation to find Menelaus still chatting amiably with Jacinthe about her abilities.
“Now,” he said to me in his deep voice, “who are these Fae and humans you’ve brought with you, my mate?”
He nodded towards Jacinthe’s companions, who stood gathered around Boreas.
Glad of the distraction, I smiled and introduced each of Jacinthe’s companions.
Menelaus greeted them all warmly, even a nervous-looking Count Fernan, who looked extremely ill at ease among the assembly of Wind-Walkers.
“Please, sit,” Menelaus invited when I’d finished the introductions. He swept an arm out toward the low couches and cushions scattered around us. “Wine! Refreshments!”
He drew me down to sit beside him on the padded royal bench.
A bevy of Wind-Walker hatchlings, each the size of a large pony and covered in gray, fuzzy down instead of feathers, scurried to obey.
“Lady Aeolia’s latest clutch of hatchlings,” Menelaus explained. “She believes in every aerie member making themselves useful.”
I saw Boreas shift uncomfortably at his clutch-mother’s name. He’d settled into a crouch in an open space behind the human-sized furniture.
Jacinthe and the others sipped at goblets of hot spiced wine, and enjoyed skewers of grilled meat. Menelaus turned to me.
“Jonquil, my heart, I have to ask. What brings you here after all this time? Not that I’m not overjoyed to see you,” he added quickly, “but I sense there’s more to this visit than a simple reunion.”
I sighed and bowed my head. I’d rehearsed my speech for hours last night and on the flight south from the border, but it suddenly felt mercenary to ask Menelaus for aid immediately after our reunion.
But without the Wind-Walkers on our side, we didn’t stand a chance of defeating Beltrán de Norhas and his suborned legions. The Dominion would dissolve into a bloody civil war, victimizing and killing ordinary citizens for the sake of power and riches.
I took a deep breath and prayed that Menelaus wouldn’t think I was just trying to use him for my own ends.
“Staying away from you was never my choice, Menelaus,” I said. “But I had to protect our daughter from those who would harm her. For years, we hid in the remotest corner of the Dominion, living under false names in a small village. Even then, I was always looking over my shoulder.”
He nodded sympathetically.
I continued. “Last year, when I had to leave the village for important business—” Now was not the time to mention my younger daughters. I promised myself I’d tell him everything later. “—the Duke de Norhas captured me and enslaved me with black magic to force me to agree to become his mate. I—I only escaped because Jacinthe found me and broke the foul enchantment binding me to the duke’s side. Now he seeks to overthrow my mother’s throne and seize power for himself. Civil war looms on the horizon, and I fear for the safety of our people.”
Menelaus’ face darkened with anger as I finished speaking. His muscles bulged with tension beneath his black velvet. “This Duke de Norhas,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “How dare he lay hands on you, my mate!”
His protectiveness warmed me as I pushed down unpleasant memories with all my strength. “He’s ambitious and utterly ruthless. He’ll do anything to claim my mother’s territory and my birthright. That’s why I’ve come to you, Menelaus. I need you and your people to help me keep the Duke de Norhas from tearing the Dominion apart.”
“Of course!” Menelaus said without hesitating. He straightened and looked out over the assembled Wind-Walkers. Raising his voice, he announced, “As your mate, it is my duty and my honor to stand by your side in this fight and help you in any way I can. The Wind-Walkers will not stand idly by while this duke threatens our loved ones and the people of the Dominion.”
Oh, Divine Mother be thanked! I sagged against his side. “Thank you,” I whispered to him.
Then Lady Aeolia heaved her immense bulk to her feet.
“With all due respect, my king,” she began in Capitolan. “You’re letting your emotions sway you. We Wind-Walkers should not involve ourselves in human affairs.”
Scowling, Menelaus asked, “And why is that, Lady Aeolia?”
“Need I remind you of what happened the last time Wind-Walkers fought against the army of Norhas? The humiliating defeat we suffered at their hands?”
The onlookers fell silent.
She was referring to the Battle of Invictus Pass, the landmark event two centuries ago that had led to human unification under the Imperial Dominion.
Aeolia continued in a blistering tone, “The royal aerie has been forced to pay tribute and send hostages to the humans for two hundred years. Is that a mistake you wish to repeat?”
Oh, no , I thought, as my hopes came crashing to earth like a spent firework.
Boreas shoved himself to his feet and came forward. “Permission to speak, my king!”
“Permission granted,” Menelaus said.
Boreas swung his head around.
“With all due respect, Lady Aeolia,” he began, “this isn’t about human politics. This is about defending our own.”
“Is that so, hatchling?” Aeolia’s feathers rippled down her long, sinuous neck as she fixed her piercing gaze upon her son.
Boreas didn’t retreat. “As we’ve just heard, the Duke de Norhas has not only abused our king’s mate, but also threatened his hatchling.”
He swung around to face the gathered Wind-Walkers on the cliffs all around us. He shouted, “What fire-blooded Wind-Walker among us would let such insults go unavenged?”
Roars and whistles of agreement rose in a cacophony that echoed off the canyon’s steep walls.
Boreas turned back to Menelaus. “My king, your mate and hatchling need you. They need all of us. If we turn our backs on them now, we turn our backs on our honor and our blood!”
I held my breath as Menelaus looked first at Aeolia then at Boreas, his thick russet brows drawn together in thought. And then, with a decisive nod, he rose to his feet.
“Boreas has reminded me of my duty!” Menelaus declared, his voice ringing with authority. “The insults against my mate and hatchling cannot go unanswered. Vengeance is necessary.”
Aeolia’s eyes narrowed, and her plumage rippled in displeasure.
But the king was not finished.
“Moreover,” he continued, “Lady Aeolia has reminded me it’s well past time for the Wind-Walkers to send an official embassy to our neighbors. Helping my mate’s mother defend her territory is a good first step in re-establishing friendly relations between our kingdoms.”
He rose to his feet, his powerful form exuding an aura of authority and determination. “I will accompany my mate and hatchling north to Neapolis Capitola,” he proclaimed. “There, I will fight at the domina-regent’s side to protect her territory from the intruders who dare threaten what is rightfully hers.”
He turned to Lady Aeolia. “In my absence, Lady Aeolia, you will govern the Wind-Walkers. I entrust you with the safety and well-being of our people.”
Lady Aeolia flattened her bristling feathers and bowed her head. “As you command, my king.”
Menelaus tilted his face up to address the gathered Wind-Walkers on the cliffs. “I invite the unmated young Wind-Walkers of our kingdom’s aeries to join me in fighting for my mate’s territory. Fledglings, this is your chance to prove your mettle, to forge your own legends in the heat of battle!”
A roar of approval erupted from the assembled Wind-Walkers. A renewed surge of relief washed over me.
Saved! I thought, eyeing Boreas with gratitude. Time after time in the past two weeks, Jacinthe’s companions had provided us with invaluable help. Their unwavering loyalty was a testament to the ruler that my daughter would someday become.
As the noise subsided, Lady Aeolia rose once more. “Before this audience ends, I wish to introduce one more piece of business. It concerns Boreas of Argestes Aerie.”
A hush fell over the assembly. The air suddenly felt thick with tension and anticipation.
Jacinthe’s expression fell as Boreas stiffened and pulled his feathers tight against his body.
“Boreas,” Lady Aeolia began, still speaking Capitolan, “you have disgraced yourself and our aerie with your outrageous behavior among the humans. You have acted without honor, without regard for our traditions, and challenged the authority of your clutch-mother.”
Boreas flattened himself to the ground. “Clutch-mother, I’d never mean to harm the aerie,” he protested. “Or challenge you. I only wished to help Princess Jacinthe!”
“You overstepped your bounds, Boreas. Repeatedly,” Aeolia snarled, her feathers bristling with anger. “Worst of all, you placed our aerie mark upon King Menelaus’ hatchling without my knowledge or approval. I don’t tolerate that kind of insubordination from any of my hatchlings, much less one so recently fledged!”
She drew herself up to her full height, her massive form towering over Boreas. “From this day forward, let all be advised that I expel my hatchling Boreas from Argestes Aerie!” Her words rang out into the sudden silence. “He has forsaken your own kind in favor of the humans he apparently adores.” She turned to Boreas and added contemptuously. “Go. Let the earthworms be your family now.”
Boreas staggered back as if he had been struck.
“Clutch-mother, I beg you,” he whispered, his wings and long neck both drooping, “do not cast me out. Argestes Aerie is my home. I have nowhere else to go.”
Jacinthe turned a pleading look on Menelaus. “Can’t you help Boreas… Father?”