Chapter 12
Tension I didn’t know was between Ryker and I dissipated after we mated.
It could be because now we were communicating more easily, or it could be the fantastic sex we were having every day.
It did help ease the worry I had as the day got closer to when they would strike and bring all the captives home.
For security and the well-being of the therianthropes that were being rescued, only the medical staff was going to be allowed near them until after they’d been assessed.
I understood this but I wanted to be with my family, to support them.
If anyone knew how hard and disorientating those first days could be it was me.
The plan was to put all the therians to sleep once the guards were taken care of. It was going to be the safest way to gather and transport everyone. No one liked it but even the therian council members agreed that would be the less traumatic way to save them.
From there, they would be taken to various medical facilities for assessment.
Siku’s friend Tiki, who was quickly becoming a good friend of mine, also talked to the dragons and arranged for some to go to each facility to act as interpreters.
I learned that the dragons understood any language.
When they projected their thoughts to others the person heard it in their native language.
I discovered in those early days here that therians couldn’t normally project their thoughts in biped form, only in their natural form.
I could project my thoughts, but only those who had the ability to do so could hear me, so Tiki and other therians could hear me.
Tiki could talk back to me telepathically but the therians couldn’t.
Thus presenting a huge problem that the dragons solved.
The last thing anyone wanted was for the rescued therians to think that they were in danger and lash out, hurting themselves or others.
The one thing I wasn’t certain about was that each group of dragons also had a team of dragonkin guards.
I saw some of those guards one day when Tiki took me to his work.
They were not petite and cute like him. They were big and fierce-looking, but very polite.
Tiki was friends with one who he introduced to me, Zulga.
He was as tall as I was but three of me wide.
Tiki had also wanted me to meet one of his best friends, Fabio, but he was preparing a nest. Fabio was going to lay a clutch soon, which Tiki was very excited about.
I was too, after he told me about it, and I hoped I’d get to visit the dragonlings when they hatched.
But that was several months away. Today, I was headed to the mansion, where I was invited to observe the operation.
Bayne even arranged for me to have my own viewing screen so I could watch my family’s rescue.
I waved to the guard at the front pedestrian entrance and swiped my ident cuff over the security pad.
The light turned green, and the gate clicked open.
I had another ten-minute stroll ahead of me through a beautiful garden before arriving at the main entrance.
Usually, I savored this walk, appreciating the fresh air and blooming flowers, but today, I had the urge to sprint.
I held back, however, as the day was warm, and the last thing anyone needed was to see me panting and drenched in sweat.
Tiki was in the receiving hall when I got there. Ryker was out on a job but was supposed to be here in time for the operation. I was early because Tiki wanted to have lunch with me. He saw me as I entered and waved happily.
He rushed over and hugged me tightly. “Well, aren’t you mugged today.”
Tiki always spoke strangely to me and while he didn’t have the dragons’ ability to project in any language, he spoke Shadow Elvish very well.
“I am not a mug,” I responded coolly.
Tiki looped his arm with mine and led me through a part of the mansion I was quite familiar with. “It means that you’re looking beautiful and perfect.”
Tiki, Kikoi, and Siku took me shopping shortly after I got here because all I had were a few basic shirts and pants from the elves at POOF.
Today, I wore simple, lightweight black pants that were quite loose and wide around my legs, yet snug at the waist. Paired with this, I chose an open dark purple tunic that showed off my chest. I knew Ryker enjoyed this style.
The tunic came to my ankles and billowed behind me like a flowing cape as I moved.
I had a few outfits like this in various colors.
I didn’t like tight confining clothes, so the soft flowy garments were perfect.
Shoes were even worse but Kikoi found me these shoes that molded to my feet with magic, so my feet were protected from debris on the ground but I could grip the ground as if I didn’t have shoes on. They were amazing.
“When your family is here, we’re going to have a big TV night and introduce all of you to the wonderful world of drag, period.
We have over a hundred years of history and culture to educate you on.
” I loved how Tiki gestured wildly with one hand as he talked.
“Us dragons are very fond of drag artists. We’re gender fluid, they’re gender fluid.
We have great fashion. They have great fashion.
We’re a little dramatic. They’re a little dramatic.
And since The Uprising, when all beings could finally show who they were, the drag community exploded with beings shedding their glamour left and right. Even Mama Ru came out as a vampire.”
I had no idea who Tiki was talking about but he was very excited. We got to an elevator and instead of going down to the small cafeteria like usual, we went up to a part of the mansion I’d never been to before.
Tiki kept talking, which was fine with me.
I liked listening to him. He was very full of life and I enjoyed his company.
“There are actually many drag artists from the very early days before The Uprising that Kikoi saved after he sired Mama Ru. They are ambassadors across the dimensions; spreading love, humor, and acceptance for all beings, great and small.”
The elevator halted one floor beneath the top. I followed Tiki into a spacious room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, resembling a grand outdoor patio complete with a pool.
“Sorry, I got off track and didn’t get to why dragons and drag artists are ingrained with one another.
After The Uprising, the Terran dimension descended into a chaotic mess.
There was widespread violence as the humans tried to resist and became heavily restricted, with dragons being the only exception.
” He stopped before we reached the group of people sitting around a huge table and got in front of me to grab my full attention.
“Dragons could go anywhere and because we already considered drag artists kin, we made them honorary dragons with full privileges thereof. They could continue to travel, entertaining folks and spreading their love of life and all things the Creators made in our worlds. They also weren’t afraid to cut a bitch when needed, so they could hold their own.
Because we’re all what?” Tiki jutted a hip out and flicked a wrist out dramatically.
I shrugged and guessed with a slight wince. “Dragons?”
He giggled, breaking the fiery stare he was giving me.
“Well, yes, we’re all dragons but we’re also fierce, hunny, and sickening.
” His hand, with a flourish that spoke of great importance, swept up and over his head.
“And ain’t nobody got time for hate.” He made a loud popping sound with his mouth, which made me giggle.
He shared a laugh with me, and I adored his enthusiasm for everything around him.
He always projected a vibrant, positive attitude.
Suddenly, Kikoi appeared before me, causing me to flinch in surprise.
I was still adjusting to the incredible speed of vampires and how they could materialize out of nowhere.
I bowed, and Kikoi waved a dismissive hand. “Stop that. You’re family now. I see Tiki is telling you about the dragons’ cousins?”
We started walking again toward the table. “Yes. It’s very fascinating and I look forward to watching the archived history.”
“Oooo, we could play them in the theatre since your family would probably like to watch them too. We can have a night once a week and maybe even have some drag artists come for live shows.” Kikoi clapped his hands loudly and flicked his beautiful long braids over his shoulder.
Tiki’s tail thumped the back of my legs and then knocked over a side table as he made a high-pitched noise and jumped up and down, waving his arms in the air. I had to quickly move forward to avoid getting hit in the face. But I laughed with them because Tiki was obviously happy.
“There are some amazing local artists that I’m sure you’ll love,” Tiki said as he calmed.
“Come on, Tiki, we need to eat before we all go to the operation control room.” Kikoi gestured for us to sit at the two empty chairs.
“Good afternoon.” I started to bow to the other kings but Talos stopped me with a look.
“If you still insist on acting like an outsider, then you can go home and eat. If you’re going to be here with us, then act like you’re one of us.
” I didn’t know how he managed to pull off being threatening while being friendly but he did.
I took his threat as one and sat, only offering a nod in greeting to the whole table.
There was a vampire whom I’d only seen at a distance sitting next to me.
He was truly gigantic and made me feel tiny like Kikoi, which was unusual since I towered over almost everyone else.
I recognized him as Talos’s brother, Prince Odin, who was mated to Siku.
Their sons Eskander and Yuka were sitting on his lap, one on each leg, eating their lunch.
The rest of the table went back to their discussions and Tiki sat next to me.
“I had them make you some of the vegetable lasagna you like with garlic bread. There’s also some salad and fruit.” Tiki pointed to the large bowls in the center of the table.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted something heavy but I knew I’d probably be less inclined to eat later, so it was best to get the food in now. The meal would last me some time.
“Thank you, this is perfect.” I didn’t hesitate to start eating while Tiki continued to tell me about drag history.
A sense of calm fell over me as I let myself be accepted by these beings who were so incredibly powerful in their own right, not only because of their positions within the world’s politics.
They had no reason to help me or those unlawfully imprisoned for the last century.
But they were, not for personal gain but because it was the right thing to do.
King Talos was a fierce and feared leader but also beloved. It was a balancing act that he pulled off seemingly without effort. It was admirable. I could only hope that I could contribute to the society he shaped out of the ashes positively.