Chapter Eighteen
Lonan
“Alright, I admit it,” I hiss, my chest nearly pressed to Kai’s in the small shower. He rubs his hand over his head, quickly rinsing the shampoo out.
We were in a hurry, but after hiking in the desert all day yesterday, and my fun-time activities last night, I wasn’t turning down a shower. And given that Vale had refused to put Ollie down all morning, they had showered together.
“I like him,” I shrug nonchalantly. “It’s not like I want him to have my babies or anything, flame.”
Kai’s glare shifts to Finn behind me. “So you’re both on the same side?”
Finn chuckles. “There is no side, Kai. We’re all in Ollie’s circle.”
He grunts but Finn shuffles in between us and wraps his arms around Kai’s neck. “I love you, Kai,” he continues softly, and kisses Kai deeply. Kai’s arms come around Finn as he leans into the kiss. I place one hand on either of their hips.
Finn twists, pressing his lips to mine. “I love you too, Lonan. Can’t you two numbskulls feel it? We’re all intertwined. Loving all of you is as natural as breathing. Stop making it harder than it needs to be.”
“Wise words,” I mutter, using my body to turn us. “Now get down there, Finnick, love.”
“We love you too, pretty boy,” Kai rumbles, hand going to his cock. “Now suck us off.”
WHEN WE EMERGE FROM the bathroom, Vale is sitting across the table from his mother, staring her down. She looks like she doesn’t give a single fuck.
Her long true-red hair is braided up in a crown style and she’s wearing some type of leathers. Her skin is a deep pink, her eyes a stunning gray shade, and she’s not in her wings today.
“Let’s go,” Vale snarls, not looking away from Rowan.
“Where’s Ollie?” Kai asks from behind me, still toweling his hair.
Vale answers as he stands and grabs his pack. “Outside. Looking for a certain plant to bring back. C’mon,” he growls, and starts down the entry.
We all grab our packs and follow Rowan, who has been silent the entire time.
As we emerge into the beating sun, I blink, letting my eyes adjust. I reach for the water table deep underground, just to ground myself.
The heat doesn’t bother Kai, but deserts really put me on edge.
I grab Finn’s hand, wondering if he’s struggling too.
I give it a squeeze, which he returns with a gentle look, his smooth hair quickly drying in the heat.
“Found it!” Ollie chirps, hopping over a small dune. In her hand is a large-leafed, blue plant. “Regal Wineberry! Only grows in sand nearby acidic bedrock. It’s incredible for chest congestion.”
I smile at her softly.
Vale grumbles, “Ollie, Lonan, with me; Rowan can take Kai and Finn.”
Rowan nods and starts to shift, body clouding in a red mist as her magic takes her.
I can’t help it, it just comes out. “Aw, geez that means I’m the only one who won’t get to have ridden your mom, Vale.”
“LONAN!” Ollie screeches, immediately getting between us.
He had that one coming, honestly. I smile at him and even though he’s glaring, he doesn’t seem like he’s interested in eating me like he would have last week. Progress.
WHEN WE LAND ON THE top of the rotunda of Guivre Shores, I give Ollie a last kiss on the neck and slide off. I hold my hands up to her but she climbs down on Vale’s proffered foreleg.
Rowan starts to transform back to her Fae form as soon as Kai and Finn are off her back.
Before the red and blue mists can even dissipate from around Vale and Rowan, a guard has appeared.
“Lady Rowan,” he bows low, black wings open and also lowered. “We’re glad to have you back in Guivre Shores. Lord Balthazar and his grandchildren will meet you in the Vorr Hall shortly.”
I pause a moment, recalling that Vale and his cousin were both referred to as ‘prince’ yet his mother and that sulfur bastard do not have royal titles. Probably trying to minimize suspicion since he stole his niece’s throne when she was but a hatchling.
She nods, fingers twitching, and follows the guard downstairs. We follow along, silently, Vale taking Ollie’s arm.
The cool marble surrounds us and I swear I see Rowan’s shoulders hitch higher and higher the farther we get inside. She’s nervous enough that it’s rubbing off on me. I place my hand on my sword hilt as I straighten up.
As we enter the same hall—with the exquisite doors—as last time, Lord Balthazar sits in his near-throne.
His skin looks a healthier yellow which makes me a bit worried, if I’m honest. The pearlescent dragon shifter is again to the left of the throne, in wings, tail, and snout.
About as dragony as he could get and still be able to talk, I imagine.
Next to him is the female dragon shifter, gray wings out, but otherwise in Fae form.
Prince Egan and Princess Ilma, both cousins of each other and of Vale.
“Well, well, well, the prodigal daughter returns,” Balthazar says in a snarky manner. “What has it been, a century?”
“One hundred and ninety-seven years,” she snarls, “And only that recently so I didn’t lay my egg alone. I used one of the dragon midwives, took a nice long nap, and left with my egg before any of your assassins could find us.”
Balthazar has the acting abilities to look wounded. “Why, niece, I would never kill you.”
“Of course not, not and risk a blood curse. But hired muscle doesn’t count, do they?”
He chuckles as if they were joking about who snuck the last piece of cake. “Well, anyway, Rowan, I wanted to speak to you—”
Ollie cuts him off. “Excuse me, Lord Balthazar, I’m so sorry to interrupt—”
She does not sound the least bit sorry.
“—but I must press upon your hospitality for our agreement. Your thunder, for convincing Lady Rowan for returning.” She smiles winningly. “We must leave with alacrity. Tomorrow, hopefully, or the day after at the latest.”
Balthazar turns his eyes to her as Prince Egan slaps his tail on the floor irritably.
His chest puffs up, “I cannot possibly muster my thunder in that time.”
Rowan chuckles and Ollie stands taller, dropping Vale’s arm to step forward. “Lord Balthazar, I appreciate your position,” she lies, voice sweet. “But we must attack Monkwick day after tomorrow. If your thunder is not ready to fly, I, unfortunately, must consider you in breach of our agreement.”
His yellow face darkens, rage evident. “Why you little—”
Vale transforms, faster than I’ve seen before, a large, angry blue dragon, tail thrashing as he puts his snout in Balthazar’s business.
Rowan follows suit a split-second after, and suddenly Balthazar looks rather meek, in the face of two angry dragons.
Again I wonder if Rowan and Vale are more powerful than Balthazar’s branch of the Narisa tree.
“Fine,” he grunts.
Vale’s neck swings to his female cousin, putting their faces close. He lets out a little smoke puff from his nose, then turns and slaps his tail dangerously close to Balthazar. Rowan uses her neck to herd the four of us out after Vale.
WE’RE IN THE DARK CORNER of a pub near Vale and Ollie’s place. Rowan has her hood drawn and her back in the corner. She’s fiddling with a mug of beer. Vale looks apoplectic.
Kai finishes his beer. “So. Day after tomorrow?” He looks ready to go right now.
He’s been ready to finish this for years.
Vale grumbles, “That bastard is gonna try to worm his way out of this.”
Rowan shakes her head, “He can’t if he gave his oath. He’d be banished. But he wants to meet me alone, I’m sure.”
Ollie drinks her beer and tugs on her dress. “What does he want from you, Rowan?”
Rowan gives Ollie a dirty look, but it fades quickly. She sighs and lowers her voice. “To have me officially renounce my position as Narisa’s heir.”
Finn’s gentle honey eyes blink. “If you do not want to rule, why have you not?”
Rowan snorts, “Would you give up your birthright?”
He tips a shoulder up. “Yes. For happiness, I would.”
Ollie makes an insulted noise into her beer.
Rowan seems to be struggling not to roll her eyes.
“Too pure for this world, pretty boy,” Kai mutters as his hand lands on Finn’s thigh.
I toss my beer back. “C’mon, back to the flat. I need to write some messages.”
“I’ll be staying at an undisclosed location,” Rowan responds.
Vale coughs and it sounds like ‘good.’
I huff. I suddenly understand how Lilac feels, trying to keep us all in line.