Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
C ade arrowed out of the house and into the sky, his heart thundering. Arielle was up there with a strange dragon and, while she was brave and fierce, she was still just a child.
He roared, echoed by Beau, and the big, dark green dragon who was turning to face Arielle, wavered in the sky, clearly shocked by the two alpha males coming after him now.
That was good. That meant he wasn’t aware of how many of them were guardians now, assuming he was up to no good.
Has Arielle told you why she went after him? Cade asked Beau as they split up to flank the big male.
Just that he was flying low over the house and she didn’t know him from the village or from her friend’s little community down by the water.
Damn. That wasn’t exactly a reason to attack. They had to find out why this stranger was here before they allowed?—
A burst of steam and smoke came from the stranger, aimed at Arielle, who swooped away, and that did it. Cade would not allow anyone to hurt one of the children.
Not ever.
So he zoomed in, Beau slashing in from the other side, and then there was a trumpeting from up above, Zeke and several other dragons swooping down from on high above them.
The dragon wheeled around, speeding toward the end of the valley that held their village, clearly trying to get away. He was being pursued now, not just challenged, and he was trying desperately to get away.
Cade just didn’t think it was possible.
Zeke whooshed by, and Cade had to admit he was stunned at the speed with which that big dragon could fly.
Cade put on a burst of speed, and Beau cut Arielle off, pushing her back toward the house. Thank the goddess. Once she was out of the way, he didn’t worry about what the dragon could throw at them.
Zeke. Push him down into the bowl beyond the village and we can block him in the little valley. There’s just a couple of feed fields there.
Heard. Zeke pushed, all but nipping at the blackish green tail, but Zeke wasn’t using his powers. Just his might.
That was fair, since they didn’t know this one’s purpose. But Cade was of the opinion that only the guilty kept running when surrendering and explaining could cause a much better result for them.
They pushed the intruder just where Cade had hoped, and a quick scan of the tiny valley told him no one was at work in the fields yet.
So he went high while Zeke zipped at the dragon from the back, and two of Zeke’s brothers came in from either side.
He assumed Beau had gone to take Arielle back and was going to stand guard there.
Cade dove down as soon as he had position, and he knocked the green dragon out of the air, watching him fall, wings and tail flailing. To their credit, Zeke’s family caught him, easing him to the ground, but then they all put weight on him, holding him down.
Cade didn’t know why this dragon was here, but he was damn well going to find out. He had been heading up toward the mountain, toward all those new children.
Toward Hawk’s house and the portal to the human world, to the fae.
He landed, hitting the earth firmly, making himself as large as possible. He knew that, while not as impressive as Zeke or Hawk, at his full size, he was intimidating.
He didn’t bother to shift to human, he just roared. “What business have you here?”
“Exploring.” The single word was huffed out, the green dragon’s eyes focused on him. “I’m in search of children who would be interested in coming to the city and joining the mage’s academy.” This dragon lifted his chin, defiant and unafraid. “It is a great honor to be chosen. I was not aware that this backwater place would be so unfriendly.”
“I’ll show you unfriendly,” Zeke growled.
“I suggest you watch your tone, friend.” Cade had never seen or heard of anyone from the city flying over to search for children. Of course, many of the young ones left for the wide world—some to study, explore, and return home, some to find a life and never come back.
That was the way of life.
But to come searching like a thief in the night? Especially after the warning Cade had been given by the black dragon?
Everything in him itched from the words, from this dragon’s presence.
“The appropriate thing to do would be to come into the village and speak to the elders, not to flyover homes and scare children.”
He was heading for the mountain . Zeke’s growl was private but furious.
Penny was at my house . Cade felt sick in his stomach. Penny was with Tanya and Arielle.
Send him on his way, Samuel said, eyes deadly still. Send him on his way. Tell him not to come back. Beau won’t be so kind.
No, no. Penny was Beau’s light.
The logical thing to do would be to simply tell the scout to go to the village and see the council. Cade could take him there, but no one wanted him here. To be perfectly honest, Cade wanted to let Zeke and Samuel tear him into pieces, but there would be repercussions for that. Possibly more dragons would come and, while they were isolated here, and powerful, none of them could survive an attack from an entire army.
“Let him up.” Be on guard. I imagine he’ll leave in a huff, but it’s hard to tell with the ones from the city. They are…odd.
Zeke and Samuel let the interloper stand, staying close and at the ready.
“I am Cadeyrn of the Galinea clutch, head of the watch.”
“Grecsian.” The dragon’s lip curled. “Charmed, I’m sure.”
What a great fool. “Should you have business, then please, we will escort you to the village, to the elders, and you can speak with them. Zeke, here? He’s the head of the council of the clan up the mountain. You can speak to him right now.”
Oh, nicely done . Samuel’s approval almost made him laugh aloud.
Zeke rattled his scales, the sound a direct, solid threat. “I know that we have no children who wish to leave, to go to the city at this point, trust me. Perhaps in a decade or century, but not now. Thank you for your attention. Bu-bye.”
Well, that was clear. Well done.
Thank you, brother, I appreciate it. How do we get rid of this bastard and make sure no one comes back.
I have to go to the elders; that’s above my pay grade.
Zeke sighed. Let me talk to Gareth. He’s more diplomatic and less likely to bite.
“Perhaps the children can make that decision,” Grescian said.
“They’re children, ” Samuel snarled. “They shouldn’t be making decisions like that. They should be learning and laughing and playing and growing up with their families.”
Grescian’s oily laugh made him want to shudder, but he refused to let it show. “Are you certain the fiery girl dragon has no desire to broaden her horizons?”
Samuel roared. “You will not even look at her, foul creature.”
Oh, Devon and Brand would?—
The thump of huge wings sounded just before the ground shook as Brand landed. “I will kill you as soon as look as you.”
Oh, this was getting serious.
Grescian bowed his head, the motion insincere. “I will send word to your council that I wish to meet with them at a later date. Tensions are clearly too high now. If you allow me, I will leave the area.”
“We will escort you,” Brand snarled. Zeke made a sound of agreement.
I have to go to the council and tell them , Cade said. Are you willing to deal with him?
Samuel gave him the side eye. We are.
Cade bit back a snort. No dead bodies.
The last thing he needed was to have to make excuses or explanations to the elders. It would make them cross. “The Rocky Mountain clan will see you on your way.”
He headed off without waiting for acknowledgement. He needed to speak to the elders first, but then he needed to get home and see his mate. We got him. Brand and Zeke are sending him home.
Good. Beau’s here with me and Arielle, who is hysterical. I don’t know what to do.
It’s not yours to do. That was going to be a nightmare as it was. Terrified parents were rarely reasonable. Brand will be there in a minute, and he’ll take her home, and don’t interfere.
I’m not stupid. Poe snapped. I’m just scared. Beau is talking to her, but he won’t put Penny down. I feel like this is my fault.
Nonsense. It’s not your fault that someone is being inappropriate. In fact, Arielle had been amazing. Brave. Strong. Fearless. He could use her on the watch.
Poe went silent, and he knew his mate was thinking too damn hard, but he had to focus. The village clutch needed to be warned about this happening as well.
I love you, he told Poe. Beau will keep you safe. I will be home soon.
I love you too.
Good.
He set down in the village not too much later, and Cade was relieved to see that it was peaceful and quiet, with no intruders to be seen.
He went to the tavern to broadcast to the council’s homes the need to meet. That was the closest place with a crystal to make the call out. Before long, his father arrived, then Mirena, and the others followed, filing into the tavern.
“Ale, my friends?” the server asked, and they all looked to Cade.
“Please. We must discuss something that has just happened up at my home with Poe.”
They all exchanged glances, but filed over to seats and waited for him to start.
“There was a flyover from a large, strange dragon not long ago. Poe was baking, and I was in the cellar with Beau, but the children were outside.”
A murmur went through the elders, one of concern.
“What happened?”
“Arielle clearly felt threatened, so she defended Tanya and Penny by trying to chase him away.”
“Penny is the one who went to your wyrmnain?” his father asked.
“Yes.”
Another ripple of unease went through the elders.
“Poe called to me and Beau, and we called for the mountain clutch, and together, we got Arielle to safety, and he is being escorted away.”
“What did he want?”
“He says to see if children wanted to go to school in the city.” Cade scowled. “I have been here a very long time and have never heard of this kind of recruiting.”
“Neither have I,” Jadea said. She was twice Cade’s age, so if she had never heard of it?—
“I do not like this,” his father said. “It is like the black dragon told you. They are coming for the children.”
Cade nodded. “I need to go home to my mate, but I wanted to let you know. I will keep you apprised of how far the mountain clutch took him, and I will leave you to discuss this matter, but I would like to officially add to the guard, not just as a neighborly thing with the others.”
Mirena nodded slowly. “I see the logic in this. We will discuss it while you go to your family. Barring further emergency action, we will meet with you tomorrow, Cadeyrn.”
“Thank you.” He needed to go home. He needed to see Poe and Tanya, to hold them. And, if she was still there, he needed to tell Arielle how proud he was.
Even if her fathers were going to kill her.
He took off, leaving his borrowed robes behind, and headed home, the wind under his wings, pushing him up into the foothills.
He landed at home, shifting down to stride into the house, where there were a ton of people gathered in the main living space, including Poe and Tanya, and yes, Arielle.
After he touched down, and Tyr met him with clothes as he shifted, eyes wild. “Things are so going to hell in there, friend. Come on, hurry.”
Cade nodded and hurried into the house, which was filled with angry and worried dragons, poor Arielle standing near the hearth, her omega father ranting furiously while the others stared. “What the hell were you thinking? Flying up there? I just don’t understand. You’re just a little girl.”
Arielle’s wild red curls flew in her fury. “I am not a little girl! I am not a baby! Someone—some stranger—was doing a flyover! This is not right. It’s my job to protect the clan!”
“It’s not your job!” Devon roared. “It’s your father’s job. It is Tyson’s job. It’s Zeke’s job. Anybody but you!”
“Now Dev…” Ollie said, and Dev just shook his head.
“No, Oliver. Don’t just Dev me. You could’ve been hurt; you could have been killed! Arielle, what were you thinking?”
“She was thinking that someone was attacking her family, her clan, and she defended them.” Cade was proud and worried all at the same time, but things were absolutely ramping up too fast, too high. “Perhaps the method of defending was…more than a bit ill-advised, yes, but the instinct was not. She’s a brave girl, strong.”
Arielle looked at him, tears in her eyes. “I couldn’t let anybody hurt Penny and Tanya. I know they were looking for Penny. I know it.”
So did he, and he was going to assure it didn’t happen again. Not on his watch.
Sebby stood there, arms crossed over his chest. “I don’t like it.”
Dev latched onto the words. “See? Sebby thinks she shouldn’t have gone!”
Sebastian shook his head, expression serious, stern. “I didn’t say that, Uncle Dev. I said, I don’t like this. I don’t. We have to figure out a way to make everybody safer without being scared all the time. We’re alphas, whether or not we’re young, and Ari knows it. It’s your job to defend us, but it’s our job to defend them.”
For the first time since he’d known them. Sebastian and Arielle seemed to be in agreement on something. They looked at each other, and both nodded, then Sebastian came to stand side by side with Arielle, as if he was going to defend her, but against all of these grown-ups.
Poe came to him as the tension ratcheted down, leaning in close. Are you all right?
I am now that I’m home with you. The others are taking the interloper away. They should be back soon . And then the emotions would hit again, no doubt.
What did the elders say?
They’re going to discuss everything and talk to me tomorrow, but no one’s ever heard of anyone recruiting for the schools. It’s concerning.
It’s more than concerning. It’s not right.
We’ll just have to keep an eye on things . His mate needed to focus on his pregnancy, to breathe and rest, not worry about the other children.
He heard another thump of wings as Brand and Zeke landed.
Brand strode through the door, wrapped in a robe—thank you, Tyr—his eyes flashing. “What were you thinking?”
“Same thing you would think,” Arielle shot back. “I did what was right.”
Brand came right up to her, standing in her space, staring down, and she stared back, her eyes flashing, smoke curling from her nose, refusing to back down even a little.
“Get as mad at me as you want to, but I did the right thing. I protected someone who couldn’t protect themselves. You taught me that. You and Uncle Ty. And I’m not sorry!”
Brand stared, and the tension ratcheted up and up and up.
Just as Cade was about to say something, Brand grabbed her and hugged her close. “I was so scared. Oh, danger mouse, I was so scared that we were going to lose you.”
“Me too,” she whispered, and then the tears came, hot and fiery.
It broke his heart to see how Sebastian turned away, so that he didn’t have to see her cry.
There should be food. I should make food. Poe seemed near tears himself.
You’re the size of a house with three babies growing inside you. You shouldn’t make food.
Their house spirit, Nan appeared with a huge plate of charcuterie. “Food,” she announced. “There’s more coming. Sweets and ale. Everyone needs to eat.”
Tanya had a huge basket of muffins that she was bringing from the kitchen.
“See? Food.” That was better.
Poe shook his head and smiled at him. “Is it always going to be this exciting here?”
“I think you brought it with you, this excitement. Nothing ever happened before you guys showed up.”
Poe whapped him gently. Well, kind of gently. “Be good, dragon. We have a house full of people, and I need a muffin. Feed me.”
Well, that he could agree with, at least.