Chapter 6 #3
Tor turns my head gently and tuts. ‘Fucking Raina,’ he snarls at the wounds on my neck from her talonlike fingernails before bending over them, his tongue darting out.
‘What are you doing?’ I exclaim as I feel him licking me, trying to move away.
‘Healing you, silly,’ he murmurs. ‘Hold still.’
I do it, shivering a little and then giggling a little as I bat him away. ‘That’s enough,’ I gasp.
‘I believe our little human is ticklish,’ Brax murmurs in my other ear. ‘If only we had the time to explore that a little more.’
Tor gives me a small smile. ‘When we return.’
Brax makes a deep noise of assent, but steps away.
‘What happens now?’ I ask.
‘We have to go,’ Tor says. ‘Drey has vowed to take care of you. And you’ll meet the doc, Del. If you need anything, go to him.’
Brax nods. ‘None of the other dragons though. Except Del. Not the humans either.’
I frown. ‘Why not the humans?’
‘Just trust us,’ Tor says.
‘Okay,’ I mutter, but I already know I’m not going to take everything they say at face value.
I’ll make up my own mind about the humans here. After what I’ve seen of the dragons since I arrived, though, I think I’d have made up my mind about them pretty wholeheartedly if I hadn’t already. Brax and Tor really are the outliers where the giant reptiles are concerned.
I’m not sure about their commander though. He seems fair, but he doesn’t like humans, that’s for sure.
‘We should show her the other thing,’ Brax says and Tor nods.
‘Other thing?’ I ask.
‘For if one of our brethren forgets to follow the law,’ he explains.
Tor nods again. ‘It’s a weakness when we’re in our human forms. A pressure point on every dragon of the Stormriders. Any of us can be incapacitated if it’s pressed for longer than five seconds. It starves our brain of oxygen. After half a minute, we’re dead.’
‘It’s that easy, huh?’ I whisper incredulously.
His face is solemn as he takes my hand. ‘It’s a closely guarded secret, Mari. No humans know about it. None but you. And, yes, if you catch the dragon by surprise, it really is that easy.’
They’re really going to show me how to kill them? Me from a few days ago would have used this information to escape. I’d have killed them without a second thought.
I shake my head a little as Brax turns his back on us, shucking his shirt and bending down so I can see his bare back.
‘We barely know each other,’ I say quietly. ‘How do you know I won’t just teach this to all the other humans here, or use it against you?’
‘Because we trust you. Our dragons trust you, Mari.’
‘I don’t understand,’ I whisper.
Neither of them say any more about it, but I get the distinct impression that there is more to know.
Tor presses my hand to Brax’s back, and I shiver, feeling that connection we have intensify exponentially. He tenses and I know he’s experiencing it too.
‘Feel for the first vertebrae on the spine from the base of the skull.’
I do as he says, touching the first ridge on the back of Brax’s neck.
‘Move down to the fifth.’
My fingers descend slowly, and I count until I get to it.
‘Good,’ he purrs. ‘Now, on the left, there’s a small ridge. Find it.’
‘I feel it,’ I say, lightly brushing my hands over the spot.
‘Press it hard.’
My fingers leave his skin immediately and my eyes fly to his, but he only nods in encouragement.
‘It’s okay, Mari,’ Brax says, looking over his shoulder at me. ‘Practice makes perfect.’ He grins. ‘Just no longer than a few seconds, okay?’ he mutters with a wink.
‘Okay,’ I breathe, finding the spot again without any prompts from Tor.
‘Very good,’ Tor says, and I try not to bask in his praise.
I push on the ridge gently.
‘Harder,’ Tor growls. ‘Your life might depend on knowing this, Mari.’
I jab my finger hard into the ridge and at first I think I must be doing it wrong, but then Brax’s legs buckle.
I gasp. ‘Brax!’
But Tor just snorts as he hauls his friend up to sitting and slaps his face a couple of times until he comes back ’round. ‘Ha! Four seconds, Brax. Lightweight.’
Brax lets out a dry chuckle as he gets slowly to his feet. ‘Let’s see how well you do.’
‘Mari, try it on me this time,’ Tor says. ‘See if you can find the spot without seeing it.’
I nod and he turns around. He doesn’t bend like Brax did, so I have to rise onto my toes to find the first vertebrae.
I skate down his shirt, counting quickly and then feel for the ridge.
It’s not as pronounced on Tor, but I find it and give it a hard jab.
I count the seconds and pass five. I think I’ve done it wrong, but Tor finally gives a small grunt, and his body goes limp around seven.
Brax rolls his eyes. ‘Show off,’ he mutters. ‘He was much less insufferable without his dragon.
Tor laughs. ‘I heard that.’
‘It’s fucking true.’
Tor stands up and hugs me tightly. ‘Stay close to Drey,’ he advises. ‘But don’t be afraid to use the pressure point. It’ll give you time to run if you need to.’
I nod jerkily, grasping onto him. Why am I panicking at the thought of being without them? I’ve known Tor a week and Brax less than that.
‘We feel it too,’ Brax whispers when it’s his turn to say goodbye. ‘We don’t want to leave you either.’
But he pulls away and, with final looks at me over their shoulders, they both leave me in the office alone.
Feeling bereft, I sink into one of the chairs opposite the desk and put my face in my hands. What have I gotten myself into?
The human doesn’t notice me at first. She sits in front of my desk with her head in her hands. At first I think she’s crying. They’re dramatic like that, the humans. But then she lets her hands fall to her lap and I see that her eyes are dry as she jumps at my presence.
Did she somehow play my friends, I wonder as I look at her, trying to glean anything I can from her appearance, from her, albeit, blank expression.
‘How did you manage it?’ I ask finally.
‘Manage what?’
Her voice is quiet, almost musical, and I feel the dragon slumbering inside open its eyes and take notice of her. But I slam the doors of my mind on him so he can’t see or hear anything I don’t want him to. My control over him is absolute. I’m known for it and have been for hundreds of years.
‘How were you able to seduce both of them? Get them to give you their loyalty over me?’ I ask.
My eyes bore into hers, willing her to look away. Any other dragon here, even Aziel, would have to drop their eyes when met with my power, even though I’m feeling pretty under the weather at the moment. But the Tribute doesn’t quail before me.
My bleary eyes narrow a fraction.
Humans. So against the natural order. The Fall was too long in coming as far as I’m concerned, and the world is far better off without them in any real positions of leadership.
‘Maybe it was the hair,’ she mutters.
I snort at her, amused in spite of myself, but I make myself glower at her and the pretty red locks that cascade down her back.
‘What do you expect to gain from your alliance with them?’ I press.
She frowns at me as if I’ve asked a stupid question. ‘I’m the Tribute.’
When I just stare at her, she tilts her head to the side. ‘They said there was no getting out of it. They told me what it’s like here for my kind. Even for me as a political pawn.’
When I let the silence stretch out, she scowls at me. ‘I don’t want to be a plaything for some asshole reptile to abuse and kill. That’s about the long and short of it.’
‘But how did you make them agree to help you?’
She just stares at me.
‘What did you offer them?’
‘Nothing,’ she answers and then lets out an incredulous laugh. ‘What would I have that they’d want?’
‘Why then?’
She shrugs. ‘You’ll have to ask them. Too bad you sent them away.’
Is that bitterness I hear in her tone?
‘You’d rather they’d have stayed?’
She looks down at her hands and shrugs again. My eyes narrow while she’s not looking at me. She’s guarded and very good at keeping her emotions in check. But there’s more to this than I thought. And I don’t think they’ve made a deal as such.
‘This wasn’t a bargain made by you, was it,’ I say and watch as her eyes return to mine. ‘They offered.’
I’m right. I can see it in her eyes. But why?
I sit back and regard her. Two dragons vowing to protect a human girl with dragon laws.
One of them finding his dragon again after so long and appearing whole and vibrant when we all knew it was only a matter of time before he tried again to end his miserable existence…
I lock down these unproductive thoughts. There’s no use wasting my time thinking about this. It may not make sense, but Tor is alive, and it looks like he will be for a while yet. That’s a good thing. I’ve missed him.
I stand abruptly and press a button under my desk to summon Dominick. ‘Stay here. My assistant will come shortly.’
I leave without a backward glance. I have more than enough duties to keep me busy without adding the sole care of a human to my list. I’ll make sure she’s protected as promised, but I don’t have the time or energy for a pet.
Dominick will take care of it and keep me abreast of any problems she gives him.
I take out my phone and send him a quick message, my mind already moving on to the talk I’m going to have to have with Aziel’s official representative, Raina, as the asshole doesn’t even deign to speak to me face to face anymore.
Tribute in my office. Get apt with Del. Keep safe and out of my hair. {TEXT}
I stalk through my rooms, making sure I look presentable before I leave again to rejoin the others in the Great Hall.
I go inside and adopt my usual air of nonchalance as I sit on the throne that I’d love to be rid of.
But this was the way the old commander, Morcai, did things and with the power split between me and Aziel, there are a lot of traditions I’ve had to leave alone, including this symbol of power that’s so ingrained into the faction.
Every decision Morcai made was from this seat, and now, so are mine.
‘Commander.’
I successfully stop my sneer from showing on my face.
‘Raina.’
‘Where is the Tribute?’
I regard her as she stands in front of me, staring her down in silence until she starts to look a little uncomfortable. She’s a strong dragon. But she couldn’t win against me if she challenged me, and she knows it. Soon, her eyes drop from mine and I finally answer her.
‘The Tribute is claimed for the Nesting Law by my second, Abraxus. And by Torvial.’
Whispers break out amongst the others. There are many more in the seats now. Word has clearly spread through the Stormriders. Aziel, I notice, is not here as usual. No doubt he’s holding his own court deeper inside the mountain.
‘The Tribute was meant to be for Aziel,’ Raina says, her sharp, authoritative voice making my lip want to curl into a sneer.
Who does she think she is, using that tone with me?
‘I never decreed such a thing,’ I remind her with as much authority in my voice as I can muster. ‘Yes, I was going to gift the Tribute to him. However, surely you smelled the human while she was in this room.’
I snort and give a light laugh. ‘I know I did. Tor and Brax were very thorough in her scenting.’
Low laughter reverberates through the room and Raina scowls.
‘The Nesting Law is absolute. You know that, Raina. It’s one of our most sacred laws.’
‘For our kind,’ she hisses. ‘Not them.’
‘And yet the law doesn’t specify. I read it through twice, not five minutes ago and you’re of course welcome to do the same.’
She shows her teeth and I pretend I don’t notice, adopting an air of quiet boredom.
‘The Tribute was claimed by Tor and Brax.’ I put up a hand when she starts trying to argue and she quiets, her eyes blazing.
‘I will concede that they overstepped their authority. They acted outside the guidelines of their duties and have been punished accordingly.’
‘How?’ Raina spits.
I direct her with a steely gaze to remind her of who I am, at least for now, and I’m gratified when her eyes drop again.
‘They’ve both been sent to the Borderlands, which, as you know, is a mission no one was getting in line to volunteer for. It’s a long way and a long time to be cut off from the faction.’ I narrow my eyes at her. ‘In fact, Raina, if I were you, I’d be thanking me.’
‘Why’s that?’ she snarls before gritting her teeth and tacking on a reluctant ‘commander’ at the end.
‘Because I was going to send you,’ I tell her.
She says nothing, but a couple of the others snigger as she draws herself up with a regal sniff.
‘Thank you, Commander,’ she says before turning on her heel and marching from the hall.
I don’t watch her leave, and in fact, I ask if there are any other issues that need to be addressed so that everyone knows I’ve already forgotten her.
Thankfully, there’s nothing else for now so I return to my office to go through the correspondence that’s come in the past few hours.
Dominick has put a veritable mountain on my desk since I was last in here and I sigh, knowing that I’ll be working long into the night on messages from the north about broken trade agreements–problems with the humans in the south again.
The list is long and grows with every passing day.
I note that the human is no longer in here, so my aide must have done what I asked.
I check my phone, but there aren’t any messages from him, so I start making a dent in the work that needs to be done today, wondering how my predecessor did it because I feel exhausted all the time.