Chapter 33
KATANA
T he dragon shifters were ruthless, brutal, and yet there was beauty.
Beauty among the architecture, the gold and precious jewels, and the way they treated their young with a balance of softness and ferocity that came with being partially beast. Five half-shifted children with great wings flew above playing a game of tag, their giggles making her smile.
Two of them were the eldest dragon prince’s children, and the others, she assumed, were cousins of the family.
The dragon king and queen were supposed to meet Thane to discuss his proposed alliance in this lovely courtyard.
Piper, Leif, and Fennan sat on a stone bench talking quietly.
She sensed some underlying tension between them but after their argument outside the wall a couple days before, she hoped they were working through their problems. Piper felt betrayed by Leif for telling their secret, and Fennan seemed to hold a grudge that it happened.
And Leif, well, he was still flirty, but more subdued.
Worry lined Thane’s forehead as he slowly paced back and forth.
She wished she could take his anxiety away the way he could for her.
It was as if his touch alone chased the monsters back into the shadows.
His voice pulled her to the present when her own mind played tricks on her, dragging her into the past and to places that weren’t real, but felt so.
He wasn’t just Valeen’s former lover in her eyes anymore.
He was her protector. The type of friend she needed.
The night of passion he offered, as tempting as it was, made her realize that she felt more for him than she should in just a few short weeks.
But from the first words they shared, she knew he would be special to her, even if it seemed irrational at the time.
The children raced away, chasing after the oldest boy, and left the courtyard quiet. Leaving only the soft patter of Thane’s boots, and the gentle wind in the treetops.
“They said they’d be here at noon.” Fennan looked up at the sky. “I’d say we still have a half hour before then.” He stood and pushed his hands into his pockets. “Want to go on a walk around the grounds with me?” he asked Piper.
She lifted a shoulder. “Sure. Are you alright with that, Thane?”
He waved a hand. “Go ahead, and no rush.”
“I’m coming, too,” Leif said.
After they were gone, Thane stopped his pacing and sat beside her on the bench. “Things changed this morning. I’m going to have to show King Drake Ryvengaard.”
“Oh.” Katana’s eyes widened. “We’re leaving Adalon?”
“I only want to show him it exists. It’s been so long, the king—and I’m sure many others—don’t believe in the gods and realms anymore.”
She nodded. “I suppose that would happen. It would almost be preferable to be like them and not have to live with such long memories.”
Thane reached over and placed his hand over hers. Until then, she hadn’t realized she was digging her nails into her thighs, scrunching up the fabric of her silk dress.
“You don’t need to be nervous,” he said gently.
But for a reason she couldn’t place, a pit in her stomach had been growing all morning.
Maybe it was the thought of this negotiation.
Maybe it was that last night could have changed her relationship with Thane.
If they had slept together, would he treat her differently today?
She didn’t want it to change. She didn’t want to lose the simplicity and friendship that had blossomed.
Katana closed her eyes and lifted her chin toward the sun to warm her face. She thought of her former home, the smell of the sea, and the waves crashing against the rocks. She missed the beach and the ocean.
Thane suddenly jerked his hand away and she felt him stand up. Her eyes flashed open, and her heart thundered in her chest.
An all too familiar male with a broad back and shoulder-length, dirty-blond hair stood in the courtyard. An aquamarine robe cut off at the shoulders, reached the back of his knees. Atop his head rested a golden crown with accents of pearls and seashells.
“Atlanta,” Katana whispered, sinking further into the bench. She wanted to be brave, but her muscles froze.
Thane took a small step, angling himself in front of her. That triggered her to get up and stand beside him. One thing she would not do was allow Thane to be killed for her, no matter how much she feared her ex-husband.
“Katana,” Thane breathed.
She held up her palm to him and strode forward. “It is alright. I will speak to him.”
“Just say the word,” he said with a quick nod.
She was more terrified of losing Thane than her own safety. She would not involve him in this.
“Is it you?” Atlanta took a step forward with a big smile. “How can this be?”
She slowly moved toward him, until they were within reaching distance. “Valeen brought me back. We do not quite understand either.”
“Valeen? I saw her. She didn’t tell me you were alive. Where is she?” He looked around, eyes flicking to Thane then back to her.
“She is—here.” She gulped, hoping he wouldn’t sniff out her lie. Her sister had the weapon that could kill him and might be the only person he’d fear. “I have to ask, Atlanta, did you do anything to help her when the council came for her? You know she is important to me.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “That sounded accusatory.”
“It was a simple question,” she said, softening her voice.
“Of course I did, but she dug her own grave by siding with the Primevarr and marrying that prick. There wasn’t anything I could do once she crossed certain lines.”
Katana glanced over at Thane. “No one deserves what happened to them.”
He let out a chuff and rolled his eyes. “She trapped us all in Runevale for thousands of years. As far as I’m concerned, she does deserve it.”
“She did it to protect herself from the council, but it does not matter now. We could help her make peace.”
He let out a short humorless laugh. “You always were a dreamer. There will be no peace as long as she keeps the immortal dagger.”
“Why should she not have it? She is a primordial, and she is fair and just.”
“It wasn’t decided for her to be a keeper. She stole it.”
Katana pressed her lips together, but didn’t argue with him. It was pointless. They rarely saw eye to eye.
“Let’s go home.” He shot a glare at Thane.
She took in a deep breath, heart pounding. “I am staying.”
“You’re my first wife. You belong with me in Runevale. You can have your palace back. We will have a celebration, and the entire territory will worship you.”
It wasn’t even a temptation. She’d rather live in a small hut in the middle of nowhere than go back to that palace that was nothing more than a gilded cage. “I do not want to go.”
“Why?” he narrowed his eyes at Thane. “Because of him?”
Her heart lurched into her throat. He could not think Thane had anything to do with this or he’d kill him. “I am not one of your wives any longer.” Katana was surprised at the strength in her own voice. “Things are going to be different now.”
“You were always much more than one of my wives. You’re my first,” he said sharply. “And things may be different, but it doesn’t change that you are my wife. We’re leaving.”
“I said, I am not going. Valeen needs me.”
“What could you do to help her? You’re even weaker now than you were before. I can sense you are mortal, like a delicate flower that could be crushed with little force. You need me to keep you safe.”
“I will be fine on my own.”
His posture visibly straightened, and he pushed his shoulders back, puffing up his chest. “According to the laws of Runevale, as my first wife, you belong to me.”
“Death freed me from those chains. We are no longer married, and besides, I do not belong to you.”
Atlanta sighed and took her hands. Her skin crawled with his touch, and she pulled, but he clamped down harder.
“Katana, I missed you. You were the most important person in my life, and then you were just gone. I didn’t know what to do.
Our children miss you. Please come home.
Yes, I took lovers to fill the void, but they mean nothing. ”
“You took lovers long before I died.”
“It’s only natural for gods. But you’ll always be my number one, my first love, you know that.
” Atlanta’s jaw muscles flickered. “You’re the goddess of day, a primordial.
They mean nothing compared to you. If you come with me, I’m sure I can help with Valeen’s situation.
I have sway with the council. Pricilla can be… persuaded.”
“You will only help her if I go?” she asked, face scrunching in confusion. “You do not even care that I am alive, do you? This is about how you will look if I do not go back to your side when everyone finds out I am here.”
“Enough.” He turned and began to pull her with him. “Come. We’re leaving.”
She finally tugged out of his grasp. Atlanta looked at Thane again, gaze raking over him, assessing a threat.
“Time has not made me forget, Atlanta.”
“Where are you getting these ideas?” Atlanta demanded.
“I am not going. I do not want to be with you ,” she snapped, showing her fire for the first time. Fire that had been stamped out long ago. Maybe a spark of it was still there.
She didn’t even see his hand coming, only felt the crack of it against her face.
Pain exploded in her cheek, far worse than any blow he’d delivered to her before.
This fragile body couldn’t take hits like this.
Everything around her tilted, she felt herself falling and then hit the stone.
Scared to get back up, fearing what he’d do if she did, she stayed down and brought her hand to her mouth. Blood streamed into her cupped palm.
“Do not speak to me in that tone again,” Atlanta said so calmly it was eerie.
The low growl and footsteps made her push up slightly, just in time to see Thane smack Atlanta hard across the face, then again with the back of his hand.
A red welt appeared on both cheeks. Atlanta took the hits, then lifted his chin with a snarl.
His crown was misaligned but held on. A bead of blood welled crimson.
No.
Panic shot through her, and on wobbly legs and with a throbbing head, she pushed herself up. “Thane, no.”
“You won’t lift that hand when it’s someone your own size?” Thane snapped. “Are you going to do something or just stand there?” He reached back and pulled out his sword.
A scream caught in her throat. Her heart crashed wildly as she staggered closer.
Atlanta dragged the back of his hand across his mouth, wiping the blood away. It was difficult to make an immortal bleed. “I could crush you, mortal. Easily drown you in my sea.” Water suddenly whirled around his legs.
“And I could peel your skin from your bones. Maybe you can’t die, but you’ll wish you could.” He pulled out his other sword. “Choose your weapon.”
Katana stepped between them and held up one palm to Thane and the other to Atlanta. “ Please, do not fight on my account. Please, I beg you. Please .” Atlanta would end him, and she couldn’t live with it. It would break her. She would want to die.
“Do you not see you are worth this fight?”
“Thane,” she choked out, warm tears sliding down her face.
They weren’t from the pain. She looked back at Atlanta, water swirling faster around his lower half, a blue trident in his hand.
“If you attack him, Valeen will come for you, and she has Soulender. They have an alliance. If you leave now, I won’t tell her what you did to me. What you did to me for years.”
Atlanta narrowed his eyes. “I will leave but don’t think this is over, whoever you are.”
Thane pressed forward, pushing his chest into her waiting palm. “You know exactly who I am, and I hope this isn’t over. Say when and where. It isn’t Valeen you need to be afraid of.”
Atlanta looked him over again, scrutinizing every inch.
“Ah, I see. War, the fallen god. Mortal and vulnerable. I remember now. If it weren’t for the trouble you caused Valeen, I wouldn’t even know you at all.
You’re nothing, and not worth my time.” He lowered his chin and said to Katana, “We’ll speak again soon. ”
He waved his arm down his torso, water moved around him in a great whirl, and then he was gone, with nothing left but a puddle.
Katana’s shoulders sagged, and she nearly crumbled to the ground in relief.
The tightness in her chest was like a wound-up ball of twine, until Thane put his swords away and took hold of both of her arms to inspect her face.
“Are you alright?” Thane asked. “That must hurt. I can heal it.”
Katana crumbled into his chest, gripping the front of his tunic, and sobbed.
“I wish I was strong like Valeen. I wish I could fight him, but I never could. When it comes to him, I am… pathetic. Even after all this time.” Her body shook with sadness, frustration, and relief that Atlanta didn’t hurt Thane.
She wrapped her arms tighter around him.
All Mother Above, he could have died. She could be holding his lifeless body right now. Atlanta had killed for less.
“You shouldn’t have to fight him, but Katana, you are strong. You stood your ground. You should be proud of yourself.”
She lifted her face to look up at him. “Thank you… but you should not have done that. He is dangerous. You scared me.”
“I don’t want you to be afraid for me. I will protect you. You don’t have to protect me.”
“Promise me you will not fight him again.”
He shook his head, then wiped a tear with his thumb. “That is a promise I won’t make, Katana.”