Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“What do you mean the Games have been moved up?” I asked as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
Zeke had barged into Preston’s bedroom, rudely waking me from a peaceful sleep sandwiched between Preston and Wayne to give us the update.
“The High King and Queen announced before we arrived that they moved the Games up to start today, but no one bothered to tell us yesterday,” he snapped.
He finally came into focus and I blinked at the anger in his voice. I knew he wasn’t mad at me, clearly since I hadn’t done anything, but I wasn’t certain why he was angry.
Crawling out from under Wayne’s arm, I made my way to the end of the bed so I could look up at Zeke. “Why are you so upset?” I asked as softly as I could while allowing him to still hear me.
He dropped down to one knee, his face still higher than mine, causing me to lean back to meet his eyes, and set one of his large hands on my leg.
“Because you’ll have to participate today.
We just arrived yesterday and we haven’t done enough additional training with you, so you won’t be ready for the three phases and—”
I set my hand atop his and smiled. “Giant, I’m going to be okay.”
“Two people tried to kill you yesterday,” he growled and his hand flexed on my leg. “More could try during the Games and we aren’t allowed to intervene. They could permanently maim you and there’s nothing we can do except watch and wait.”
“We already knew that was going to be a possibility,” Preston said around a yawn as he sat up.
“There’s no use worrying since we have no way out of it.
She has to participate. Plus, we killed the archer who shot at her before, confirmed it was Garron, and Zeke had a nice, long chat with him to ensure he doesn’t try anything against her in the future.
” He met my eyes and a soft smile tilted up his lips.
“We just have to believe in Xoe’s abilities. ”
“If I lose an arm, will you want me less?” I asked Zeke, already knowing the answer.
“Of course not,” he snapped and reached up to grip my arms. “But you aren’t losing any arms.”
Sliding off the end of the bed, I stood before him and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’m going to be okay. I won’t let them maim me, but it is reassuring to know that it wouldn’t make you less interested in me.”
“You’re my mate,” he whispered and pressed his huge palm against my cheek. “No matter what happens, you’re mine.”
“Ours,” Wayne growled half-consciously.
“Ours,” Zeke amended with an eye roll.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and he hugged me tight against his chest. “Mine,” I whispered as I nuzzled his cheek. “Don’t forget it.”
He purred as he held me, and slowly, his shoulders relaxed and he finally stopped being so rigid.
“How long do we have until I have to participate?” I asked, still hugging him tightly and inhaling his scent.
“Three hours,” he whispered.
“Can you get me food? I’m going to shower and get dressed.”
“Two more minutes,” he whispered back, tightening his hold on me.
“I’ll get your food,” Wayne offered and climbed out of the bed.
Zeke immediately stood, carried me to the bed, then lay down while spooning his huge body around mine.
Clearly, he was in need of physical contact to calm himself and I wasn’t going to lose out on the rare Zeke cuddles.
Preston stood from the bed, too. “I’m going to find my father and see if he’ll spill any information.
There must be a reason behind this and I’m going to suss them and their reasoning out.
” He frowned and said, “Though, knowing my parents, they likely just wanted to move it up so they could see you in action after hearing all of the rumors about you. Now that I say it, that’s more than likely the reason, but I’m still going to investigate. ”
As Preston walked out, Gage walked in. He lay in front of me on the bed, took one of my hands, and rested it on his chest.
“I’m going to be fine,” I promised them. “I’ve been fighting off mercenaries, bounty hunters, and other trained killers for a decade. I’ll be fine against the Dragonkin here.”
“Just let us enjoy some quiet with you, please,” Gage whispered with his eyes still closed.
Normally, I might have taken offense to his comment, but I could feel how wound up he was beneath my palm. So, I lay silently between them and enjoyed their warmth and presence.
Honestly, I was nervous about the Games, but I knew for a fact that most people underestimated me. They saw me as a weak woman with sensitive skin and no muscles, which they assumed meant I couldn’t fight.
I would prove them all wrong today. I would show them I was more than capable of fighting and holding my own. Even against dragon shifting, fire breathing enemies. If only I could use my tech, like my roller skate boots or my cloaking device, then I could definitely win any fight.
Wayne returned with food and Gage and Zeke reluctantly released me to eat and get ready. Zeke left to fetch the clothes that had been created for me for the Games specifically, a set of lightweight armor and boots that fit perfectly.
“I need a dozen more of these outfits in different colors,” I said as I looked in the full-length mirror. The pants hugged my legs and butt, the tall boots felt worn, despite being new, and the top was long-sleeved, but breathable, so I wasn’t hot despite my arms and neck being covered.
By the time I was dressed and finished my stretches, Preston returned with an annoyed expression on his face. However, he didn’t reveal anything to me.
“Can I get a group hug before we leave?” I asked.
Without hesitation, the four princes pressed in around me, squishing me between them all. I breathed them in and felt myself relax more.
When we exited the room, they changed up their rotation, putting Zeke at the front and Preston at the back, with Wayne and Gage on each of my sides.
I was certain there was some significance to it, some military tactic or something, but didn’t bother asking since all that mattered was they were with me.
They led me out to a side exit of the castle where a large flat platform sat. There were no ships present.
“What are we doing out here?” I asked.
Zeke shifted into his full dragon form and I felt my jaw drop as I stared at the huge, red-scaled dragon before me. He was gorgeous!
“You’re going to ride Zeke to the Games’ location,” Preston explained. “We’re all going to fly in our dragon forms.”
“Isn’t it going to be frowned upon for me to ride you?” I asked. “Wouldn’t it be better if you just let your wings out and carried me in your arms?”
“Only our mate is allowed to ride us,” Wayne explained. “And our children.”
“It shows them that despite the ceremony not yet happening and you not yet using the locket’s power, we consider you our mate,” Gage explained and gripped my waist to pick me up and put me on Zeke’s back.
Was I making them look bad by not accepting them fully, by not activating the power in the locket to tie us together?
I didn’t get to ask as Zeke flew up into the air and I had to focus on holding on and not falling off. Not that I thought he’d let me fall, in fact he flew so smoothly that it allowed me to watch the landscape below us.
We flew over a beautiful city, over lush farmlands, and a jungle that was much thicker and a darker green than the jungle room they’d had on the ship.
In the center of the jungle was a huge clearing and what looked like a hollowed-out volcano, where we could hear the chatter of thousands of gathered voices.
There were stands carved into the stone wall of the circle, an oval path with obstacles along it, and in the very center was a platform surrounded by water.
“Whoa,” I whispered in shock.
People noticed us and began cheering for the princes and calling out their names.
“Popular boys,” I teased and Zeke snorted in response.
On one side of the arena sat a raised platform where all of the royals were seated, separated by their cardinal designations. Zeke landed in the middle of that platform facing the High King and Queen and dipped his head in respect.
Wayne landed next to us, bowed, shifted, and pulled me from Zeke’s back.
I bowed to the High King and Queen, then turned and dipped my head to each of the kings and queens to show my respect.
“Welcome, Princess Xoe,” High King Alaric greeted. “You may go to the participants’ box to wait for the Games to start.”
“Of course, High King,” I replied and bowed again.
All of the guys had shifted to their human forms and they took turns hugging me and placing a kiss on my cheek. Wayne held out his hand as I began to turn.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Scout,” he answered.
“Oh, right.” I laughed softly and whispered, “Scout, stay with Wayne, okay?”
Scout chirped her affirmative sound and flew out from behind my ear to land in his palm.
“Don’t break her while I’m gone,” I ordered him.
He smiled. “I promise to take care of her.”
Scout chirped again.
With one more look at them, I walked off the platform and headed to the area where fifty male and female Dragonkin stood, waiting to start the obstacle course race part of the Games.
A few smiled at me, many gave me a wide berth, and many others glared at me.
One female in particular looked at me like she wanted to tear my head off. I would need to keep an eye on her.
The High King gave a speech that I didn’t listen to, then he released a roar that started the first round of the Games.
I jogged in the center of the pack, watching as most hopped over the first, short wooden wall. A few had to climb over, not able to make the jump.
I vaulted over it with a hand on the top and resumed my jog, moving my way steadily towards the front.
As I went to jump over the next obstacle, a slightly taller wall, the male participant next to me elbowed my side. Had I been a human, it would have likely knocked me over or hurt significantly, but I continued on as if he hadn’t touched me.
His disappointed growl behind me made me smile and push myself faster.