Chapter 5 Lily
LILY
We landed somewhere along the way to Skull Island, a busy retreat for pirates between expeditions.
Despite the general lawlessness of pirates, they abided by a strict code under the Brigandine Empire, so even if two rival fleets were in port at the same time, they would conduct themselves under a banner of truce.
My father always said that pirates were some of the best men he’d ever met because they were transparent about their intentions.
Said what they meant, meant what they said.
And they could pause a blood feud and drink together in the same bar for a night before they were at one another’s throats at sea the next day.
The temperature was certainly warmer this far south, but the rain continued to pour down on us as if a sea of clouds took up the entire sky.
The dragons continued to fly until they found a rocky outcropping that could provide some relief from the rain.
A shallow cave was visible in the shadows, and that was where both dragons landed, the sound of the rain immediately muffled once we’d found shelter.
The second Hawk dismounted, he verbally rushed me like he’d been thinking about what had happened with King Ithaca for the last five hours of our ride. “I’m not sure if we handled that the best way.”
“Not we.” I dismounted and ripped off my gloves. “Me. And let’s get a fire going before we hash this out because I’m cold, wet, and tired.”
Hawk gathered drenched firewood and placed it on the bed of rocks I’d built. Wet firewood would normally be impossible to light, but one huff from Khazmuda was enough to set it ablaze. Flames shot high, and our silhouettes were visible against the stone wall, the two of us and our dragons.
I sat on the log that Hawk provided and started to strip myself down to nothing but my underwear.
He kept his eyes averted as he removed his boots. “You mind?”
“If these clothes stay wet, we’ll both get the lung disease. And get over it.” In my bra and underwear, I hung my clothes over the fire so they would dry and be comfortable to wear in the morning.
The loss of my clothes gave me a chill at first, but as my skin dried in front of the fire and the heat of the flames replaced my clothing, I felt better. When I was somewhat dry, I grabbed my bedroll out of my pack and smothered myself with the blanket.
The dragons circled us with their bodies, one curled on one side and the other curled on the other, making a wall that forced the heat to bounce back inward, acting as a house without a roof. My muscles started to relax, and my hair stopped sticking to the back of my neck.
Hawk rummaged for food in his pack and ate some stale bread and dried meat. “I’m not sure if you handled that right.”
“What should I have done otherwise?” I asked with forced calm, knowing he wouldn’t have an answer.
The quiet continued on and on, no end in sight.
I knew I was right. “I don’t like him, and I don’t trust him.”
“Guess Dad was right.”
“If I gave him an inch, he would have taken a league. If I didn’t bite back with bared teeth, he would have tried to push me around to pursue his own gains.
I admit I was vicious rather than diplomatic, but I could see there was no other option.
Father always said there can be no peace without power.
I believe in peace for all, not just men, but dragons and all beings.
As long as I retain the power, I can assure peace for the world.
But if I relinquish the power to someone else, like King Ithaca, that peace would be at risk. ”
Hawk stared at the flames, his hair a slight mess because of the way it had dried from the fire.
“He claims he doesn’t believe in my leadership because of my age, but we both know it’s because of my sex.”
“I think he would have treated me the same way if I’d presented myself as king.”
“And how would you have responded?”
His eyes remained locked on the fire as he fell into a contemplative state. “The same. Power respects power—not compromise or diplomacy.” His arms rested on his knees, a piece of bread still in his fingertips like his hunger was masked by his thoughts. “Do you think he’s truly an ally?”
“I don’t think anyone is truly an ally…to be honest. I think there are only two options—friends and enemies.
And based on that conversation, I would remove him from the friend category.
But we need allies in this battle, and if he deserts us and we prevail, he knows I’ll come for him.
And when Dad recovers and we tell him how I was treated, he’ll go full scorched earth. ”
“You keep saying it like it’s a guarantee…when we have no guarantees.”
“I won’t stop until I find a cure. Will you?”
He turned away from the fire to look at me.
“No. But it’s hard to search for something without a name or a description.
It’s hard to assume the best when all we have is the worst. With a likely attack from the Barbarians and a questionable allyship with the Empire Colonies, where will we find the time to focus on this?
The destruction of the cursed blades is so powerful that it takes half of our dragons just to keep Father alive.
We can’t focus on both at the same time. ”
“We need to save Father first.”
“And how do we do that and lead a kingdom and command our allies and prepare for war?” He continued to stare me down. “How did Father do this?” He shook his head slightly and looked at the fire again.
“Because he took the Southern Isles as an invader and protected it from invaders too. While we’ve been at peace for over twenty years, he was always prepared for war, for the moment peace would slip from his control.
We need to do the same, which is why we need to seek all allies.
Their ships may be immune to fire because of the gold that crests their hulls and they may be far more barbaric in battle, but if we converge on all sides and surround them with ships and dragons, we’ll sink them to the bottom of the sea.
Their power against us is their lethal blades.
If we keep them out of hand-to-hand combat, they have nothing against us. They can’t dock on our shores.”
“You continue to assume they’ll come from the sea.” Wrath appeared across the fire from me, his face lit up by the beacon of light. “They know that’s exactly what you’ll expect them to do—remember that.”
Hawk rubbed his palms together as he dipped his head to watch his hands work. “We’ll speak with the Brigandine Empire tomorrow and hope for the best. But to be honest, I don’t expect much.”
“We can at least expect transparency. And if they’re uninterested in an alliance, they won’t refuse the opportunity for coin.”
“They aren’t mercenaries.”
“They’ll be anything you want for the right price.”
We crawled into our bedrolls for the night.
The rain continued to fall on the rocks as a permanent backdrop of soft music, and the dragons lightly snored as they kept their barrier around us.
Hawk threw more logs on the fire to keep us warm before he went to bed, and it seemed safe, considering the dragons hid the light behind their bodies.
I lay still, disappointed Wrath wasn’t there to slide his hand into my hair and kiss all my stress away. He’d been at the fire an hour ago, but now he didn’t come to me. I’d become so attached to a man who didn’t even share the same realm.
I suddenly felt my body jerked by the navel. The world spun in a blur with a streak so long all the colors blurred together. Then everything came to a halt as I felt a soft bed beneath me, felt humid air immediately stick to my skin. Before I even opened my eyes, I knew exactly where I was.
He hiked my thigh over his hip before his hand slid into my hair.
My eyes opened to see the dark gaze of a terrifying man who scared the hearts out of most men—but cradled mine in a gentle palm.
My fingers immediately went to the wrist of the hand in my hair, and I suddenly felt warm in the flames of his heat.
I was whisked away by the comfort I felt in his presence and momentarily forgot the reality of my life.
But then it snapped back into place. “You have to take me back.” I sat up and pulled his hand away from my neck. “Zehemoth will know I’m gone, and I won’t be able to explain it without telling the truth.”
His hand left my hair, and he propped himself on one elbow. “He was asleep when I took you. He’s flown more in the last few days than he has in a year, so he’ll remain asleep until morning and remain oblivious to your departure.”
“You’re sure?” I asked quietly.
“Nothing is certain. But I believe we have at least a few hours together without risk.” His eyes were locked on mine the entire time, looking at me like it was the first time he’d seen me in days.
He gripped me with an intensity I couldn’t describe, like he was desperate for me in a way that didn’t need to be shown verbally or physically.
Just a constant state of yearning, wanting all of me, not just my body but also my soul.
“I hate that we can’t speak. That all I can do is talk and you listen. ”
“Really?” I asked with a slight tease. “Sounds like a dream for most men.”
He didn’t smile or look like he even understood the joke. “I can’t read minds, but I’ve observed men for hundreds of years so I can read intentions well. King Ithaca is someone to keep a close eye on. You handled him well.”
“You don’t think I was too aggressive?”
“I’ve shared memories of your father, so you know he would have been as aggressive, if not more.
King Ithaca assumed he could manipulate you because of your vulnerable position, but you proved how mistaken he was.
I assure you, if I could show this memory to your father, his eyes would mist in pride. ”