Chapter 4
VALEEN
W ind whipped through Valeen’s hair as Presco took a sharp downturn. Her stomach tickled with the quick descent, and she gripped the powder-blue spike in front of her just a little tighter.
Katana circled her arms around Valeen’s waist and let out a laugh. “Wahoo! This is fun! I have never ridden a dragon before!”
Presco’s massive, scaled body rumbled with deep laughter. “I’m glad I am the first to escort you.”
“Don’t turn so fast, Presco,” Thane hollered. Valeen sat in front, then Katana, then Thane behind her, but he didn’t hold onto her sister for balance. He was gripping the smaller spike his back rested against and his knees were up to his chest. The look of worry on his face made her giggle.
“And I thought you were the one most comfortable riding dragons,” Valeen teased. “Shall I fasten you a safety belt with my vine?”
He sneered at her. “I’m fine. I’m just in an awkward position, that’s all.”
“You can hold onto me,” Katana suggested, patting the spot behind her.
Her hair flowed out behind her like a ripped sail on a windy sea.
Reaching up, she grabbed hold of her hair, twisted it, and tucked it under the strap of her dress.
“Scoot closer. Or if you are more comfortable, you can hold onto Val and I will hold onto you.”
His brows shot up. That appeared to scare him more than the potential of falling. “Sit sandwiched between the two of you? I’m good right where I am, thanks.”
All it took was one glance at each other and the sisters giggled together. “I think your beauty makes him nervous,” Valeen said, quietly.
“I think what makes him nervous is being squished by two goddesses.”
Valeen laughed. “He would love it, who wouldn’t?”
“You are naughty, Val, but I agree. It would be a dream come true for just about any male.” Katana giggled.
Oh, it was good to have her sister again.
The males they had drooling over them back in the day were numerous and how they loved to tease.
They fell right back into their friendship like they’d spent no time apart.
“I can hear you, you know,” Thane grumbled.
“Then why haven’t you accepted the invitation?” Valeen winked at him over her shoulder. It might be too soon for this, but she’d always liked teasing Thane just as he teased her. “You can hold onto me. Don’t make it awkward and it won’t be.”
“It’s not awkward . But when we land and Hel sees me holding onto you, he’ll lose his bloody mind. I’m not up for dealing with his bullshit right now. I’ve dealt with enough of it the past several months.”
That was certainly true. But she kind of liked it when Hel got jealous, she just didn’t want it to happen at the expense of Thane and now wasn’t a good time to poke the bear so to speak.
It was much too soon for that. Hel and Thane had very recently accepted to be friendly again.
Although being with Katana was making her feel a little more mischievous.
“So, hold onto me .” Katana grinned. “You look like you might fall. Come.” Katana patted the spot behind her again.
“Yeah, Thane, come on,” she razzed.
Finally, his broody glare broke and even though he tried not to smile, he failed. “Fine. Since you both are pestering me.” He dropped his boots to the side of Presco and scooted forward, putting himself behind Katana.
“Now, hold my waist.” She picked up his hands and put them on her hips. “See, that is not so hard.”
“You two are going to cause me problems, aren’t you?”
Katana laughed, throwing her head back against his chest. “Only problems you will enjoy. Presco, I dare you to do something wild!”
“Hold on,” his deep voice rumbled.
Oh, that was a dare she should not have given Presco. Valeen pressed herself against his spike and held on tight. He tumbled left, turning in a full circle. Katana screamed, half terror, half glee, right in her ear. And Thane lifted off his seat then slammed back down once Presco leveled out.
“Damn, Presco.” Thane’s arms were completely circled around Katana now.
He turned his massive head around. “Too much? I never lose my riders. If you fall, I’ll catch you.”
“That’s reassuring,” Thane mumbled.
“This is where we left them.” Presco dropped into a dive, the ground came up quickly, making her stomach leap until pearl wings shot out with a pop against the wind, slowing their descent.
His paws touched down with the gentle landing only an experienced dragon had.
In her old life, he’d flown her all around House of Night to meet with lords and ladies who helped her run the territory.
In the great war of the realms, he was her battle dragon, the one who rode with her into the bloodiest of conflicts.
He may have a brilliant mind better suited for books and libraries, but he was a ferocious warrior especially when it came to protecting his goddess and queen.
“Hel’s not even here, so I guess I was worried for nothing. Synick isn’t here either.” Showing off, it would seem, Thane dropped down to Presco’s elbow. With one of his charming smiles, he held his hand up. “Who’s first?”
Presco bowed lower to let them off. “Actually, Valeen, may we speak privately?”
A nervous pulse slid up her gut. The briefly carefree fun mood she had gotten from reuniting with her sister vanished. “Of course.”
Katana touched her shoulder. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I just need to discuss something with Valeen. There is no danger that I can see.” Presco laid on his belly, making it easier for them to get down.
Katana took Thane’s waiting hand. “What a gentleman. Thank you.” He helped her get to the grass below then she smiled up at Presco and blew him a kiss. “And thank you for the ride. I think I need to travel by dragon more often. How exhilarating.”
Beating wings caught her ear. Above, Varlett’s sleek black dragon form descended with Piper and Leif on her back. Her scales glistened, reflecting the colorful night sky. If she didn’t hate the wench so much, she’d be able to admire her beautiful dragon’s form.
Presco gave her no time to ask the others where Hel had gone. His long strides shifted her side to side. A cool breeze brought with it the smell of cherry blossoms. Crickets chirped and an owl hooted in a nearby tree.
“Did you take in the landscape while we flew?”
Brows furrowed, she thought back. For the most part she was having fun and not paying attention to the scenery.
From what she did see, it was mostly barren with a few scattered farms. That was what it had always been on the outskirts of the cities.
She glanced up at the stars, looking for the constellations to guide her location.
Sargento was almost directly above. No cities were allowed to be built within several miles of her castle. Privacy was important to her.
“Be direct, Presco.”
“There were no animals at the farms, the homes were very old, ancient…”
“So they are abandoned. What does that matter?”
“Things feel—different. I want you to be prepared for the worst.”
Valeen sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “If the ruler here has abused his or her power, I will fix it. We’ll make things right.”
“I’m not trying to upset you. I know you’re happy with your sister’s return, and I don’t want to ruin that for you.”
“I’m not upset,” she said, trying to keep her voice light. He saw right through it though.
“A lot of time has passed. Remember that. People may not even know who you are anymore.”
“Take me back to the others, please.” Her tone was clipped. He was being a great right-hand advisor, like he always did, but she didn’t want to hear it.
Without another word, he ambled over to the group and dropped onto his belly, lightly shaking the ground. Valeen took her shadowy form and quickly settled on the soft grass.
Piper, Leif, and Varlett stared at Katana as she stood awkwardly beside Thane, fidgeting with her hands.
He’d probably already introduced her, but Leif and Piper hadn’t seen another goddess before.
Leif was the first to strut forward, holding out his hand with a goofy grin.
Valeen rolled her eyes knowing how this was about to go.
Forever a shameless flirt and dreadfully inappropriate.
“I’m Leif, at your service, my lady.” He took her hand and kissed the top of it, then stooped into a dramatic bow. His tangled red hair fell forward.
“How do you do?”
He stood straight, adjusted his hair, and wiped the dirt off his cheek with his sleeve. “Having met you, much better.”
Katana giggled and turned to Piper as she approached. Piper went to a knee before her and bowed her head. “Goddess of day, my name is Piper.”
“Oh, please do not bother with formalities. I am sure we will be close friends soon.”
In certain settings, Katana enjoyed the praise. She knew that others revered her and wouldn’t take that from them but with a close-knit group she’d always kept it casual, as if she wasn’t a primordial goddess, at least, that was how Valeen knew her to be many, many years before.
With her golden hair tied back into a tight braid and her unsettling reptilian eyes roaming over Katana as if assessing a threat, Varlett tapped her black talons.
Her five-inch black horns rose in two curved spikes out of the crown of her head.
“It’s been a long time since I met a true beauty. You’re almost difficult to look at.”
Katana beamed at her, not caring about the backhanded compliment. “And you are?”
“Varlett. It’s a pleasure, goddess.”
Katana was as sweet and lovely as a person came but she was no stranger to the schemes and darkness of this world.
It would be surprising if anyone else caught the minute tightening around her eyes, the barely noticeable shift away with her hips.
“Varlett, nice to meet you. My, this is a fun group. Elves, dragons, and gods.”