Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Done with his shower, Rhaz dressed quickly and went downstairs. He heard voices and followed them into what Anon called his living room.
He entered slowly and observed for a few seconds before anyone noticed him.
There were two females in attendance. One was snuggled against Jackson’s side while the other conversed with a Fae.
“The prince,” Rhaz said under his breath.
The other supernaturals must have heard him. They all looked his way.
“There he is!” Anon said with a warm smile.
“Come in, Prince Rhaziel, join us.” He turned to the others and swept a hand toward Rhaz.
“Everyone, may I introduce His Royal Highness, Prince Rhaziel Stormfyr of a dragon realm. I’m sure he’ll tell us the name of it over dinner, and hopefully we’ll all be able to pronounce it. ”
The females giggled and smiled at him. “Welcome,” the one next to Jackson said. “Are you rested now?”
“I’m sure he is, dear Hana,” Anon said, turning to Rhaz. “But she does ask a good question. How are you feeling?”
“Fine, thank you.” He noticed the Fae prince watching him with a mixture of respect and caution. Rhaz couldn’t blame him. Dragon shifters were powerful and ruthless, even in his own realm.
“Let me introduce you to my little family,” Anon said as he led him deeper into the room. “You, of course, have already met Jackson.” He nodded toward the werewolf.
Rhaz nodded back. “Yes, and this must be his mate.”
“Indeed she is. Meet Hana Andrews, for now. Soon to be Hana Hunter once they’re wed.”
“You are not yet married?” Rhaz had assumed that if they were mated, they were also married.
“Yes and no,” Hana said. “We are mated, of course, but we haven’t had a human wedding yet.” She looped an arm through Jackson’s and snuggled against him. “We’re getting married in the fall.”
He smiled and nodded, then looked toward the Fae prince and his mate. Taking several steps forward, he gave them a slight bow.
“Ah yes,” Anon said. “And this is His Royal Highness, Prince Caelen Thornvale. He is, of course, from another realm and is also First Knight to the royal family and brother to the future heir.”
Caelen stood and faced him, bowed, then straightened. “Your Highness.”
His mate elbowed him in the ribs and smiled at Rhaz.
Prince Caelen smirked playfully. “And, of course, this is my mate, Dandy. We are not only mated but also married.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “She is adorable.”
A pinch of envy struck Rhaz, and he looked away to give them a moment of privacy. That was when another man entered the living room.
He wore spectacles. Among Rhaz’s people, only the very old used them. The newcomer gave him a warm smile. “Your Highness.”
He bowed and straightened. “I am Quill, confidant to Prince Caelen and an advisor.”
“A wielder of magic,” Rhaz said. “I’ve not met one of your kind in a very long time, and then only once as a child. He was from another realm.”
“I hope it was a pleasant experience, Your Highness,” Quill said, bowing again.
Rhaz looked around the room and studied the others. “Anon described you all as a family, and I imagine that, as a family, you do not address one another by formal titles. Neither will I.” He looked at Caelen. “May I address you by your first name, sir?”
“Yes, of course,” Caelen said. “You can call all of us by our first names. We’ve been doing it for quite some time. After all, we are our own little family.”
“Yet you are all from different realms. Anon, from another time, he tells me. How came you to be in this place?”
“The same way you did,” Quill said. He went on to explain how he and Caelen had come through the same door Basil had.
They’d nearly drowned when they came through and required a little help from Anon and Jackson.
Apparently there had been a water scuffle afterward. At least, that’s what Hana called it.
Basil suddenly appeared at Rhaz’s knee.
“Dinner is about to be served, Your Majesty!” he bellowed. “Usher the peasants into the dining room!” He stuck his nose in the air and hurried off, leaving Rhaz to apologize for him once again.
“I’m afraid Basil is set in his ways,” Rhaz said. He looked around the room again. “Where is the one called Aaron?”
“He’s just arrived,” Anon said. “I heard them pull up. Come along now, everyone. Into the dining room. Let’s see what the little tyrant has whipped up for us.”
He turned to Rhaz. “He won’t poison anyone, will he? It’s been a concern.”
“I will make him taste-test every dish if it pleases you.”
“Now there’s a thought.” Anon smiled and led him into the dining room.
No sooner had they entered than the door leading to the kitchen swung open. A pretty young woman stepped through. She had blonde hair and a bright smile.
She looked at everyone before her eyes settled on him. “Oh! A newcomer!” She beamed. “Hello, I’m Betty!”
Rhaz placed a hand over his heart and bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Betty. I am Rhaziel.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” She looked over her shoulder, then stepped aside.
Rhaz felt the power of the Nemthra before the young man entered the room. Basil hurried forward first. “Your Majesty, it is the Nemthra!”
Rhaz barely heard him. He studied the handsome young man entering the room. He was well-built and muscular, with shoulder-length, wind-tossed hair and crystal-blue eyes.
He smiled warmly at everyone, then approached Rhaz. That same warm smile was directed at him. “Hello,” the young man said.
Rhaz stared at him in awe, then did what was expected. He bowed low before going to one knee.
“I am Prince Rhaziel Stormfyr of the Ravaeth Court, and I am at your service.” He rose and looked at the Nemthra.
The young man cocked his head. “Why did you do that?”
Rhaz almost gaped at him but thought it would be disrespectful. “Because, Aaron, you are water. I am fire. Where I am war, you are peace and bring balance to the realms. It is a great honor to be in your presence.”
Aaron cocked his head again and smiled. Then he looked at Anon. “I like him. He is polite!” He faced Rhaz once more. “I have been working on my manners for this realm. Betty is teaching me.”
Aaron bowed to Rhaz, then dropped to one knee before him.
Basil gasped. “No, no, no, Great One! You do not bow to him. He bows to you!”
Aaron looked at the gnome. “But why? Is there something I do not know?” He looked around the room for confirmation. “Am I doing something wrong?”
Basil threw his arms into the air. “Up! Up, Mighty One, rise! We are not worthy to be knelt to. Please get up. My heart cannot take it!”
Aaron looked up at Rhaz and smiled. “I do not mind kneeling before you, man of fire.” He rose to his feet. “They say you are a dragon. May I see?”
“No!” everyone shouted at once.
Basil looked particularly disappointed. He muttered something in Gnomish under his breath and stomped back into the kitchen.
Anon watched him go. “He really would like you to incinerate us, wouldn’t he?”
“I apologize again,” Rhaz said. “Flaming trolls, Basil is going to get us all killed if he isn’t careful.”
Aaron cocked his head as he studied him. “You are fine and handsome. Is your dragon that way?” He looked around the room. “I would still like to see him. Wouldn’t you all like to see him?”
Rhaz stared at him in awe. “You are a true Nemthra, young one. I am honored to be in your presence.”
He turned to Anon. “Thank you for protecting him and keeping him safe. His kind are used to bring life and balance to the realms. Do you have any idea what you have here in your house, vampire?”
The wizard stepped forward. “We are only familiar with his kind through poetry, nursery rhymes, and fairy tales. How do you know of them?”
“They are legendary, of course, but the stories are passed down from generation to generation. They are part of our history, and not part of our fairy tales.” He glanced toward Hana and Dandy but carefully avoided looking directly at Aaron’s mate.
Aaron leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I would still like to meet your dragon. I’ve met Jackson’s wolf. He’s very large and beautiful.”
Jackson growled somewhere behind them.
Rhaz chuckled. “I do not think, Great One, that the werewolf appreciates being called beautiful. A terrifying killer, perhaps.”
Aaron drew back and smiled. “Why do you call me that? I am not great. I am just Aaron.”
Rhaz felt himself relax. He couldn’t help it. There was a peace about Aaron that settled over everyone around him. It was simply what a Nemthra did.
Not for the first time, concern filled him, and he turned to the others. “We are the only supernaturals, as you call them, in this town of Moon Creek Falls?”
“Yes,” Anon said. “As far as we know. Unless, of course, another door opens. Then we never know what’s going to come through.”
“You realize a Nemthra must be protected.” Rhaz looked from face to face. “If he were to fall into the wrong hands, or be destroyed...”
“Destroyed?” Betty squeaked. She stepped in front of Aaron. “Who would want to hurt him?”
“He is a prize, my lady. Those who seek to keep peace in their own realms might seek to possess him. Others who desire war might seek to destroy him.” He paused. “That is, if they could.”
Betty gasped, turned, and wrapped her arms around Aaron.
Aaron hugged her back. “I am safe, Betty.” He grinned. “We will invite the dragon to dinner.”
Everyone laughed and began taking their seats around the table.
Rhaz’s heart swelled. Meeting a true Nemthra was one of the most spectacular moments of his life.
His dream tugged at the edge of his thoughts, and he pushed it aside. Why would he dream such a thing? But he already knew the answer.
There was the life he wanted. And then there was the life he was expected to endure. If only being in a room with a Nemthra could bring him peace about that.
Rhaz watched Basil fuss and fume as he served, with the help of Hana and Dandy, who insisted they were competent enough to assist.
Betty stayed close to Aaron, as if she could protect him. Nevermind her fragile state as a human female. Still, Rhaz had to commend her. Throughout the first course she remained vigilant, as though the white dragons of the Argenth Court might swoop down at any moment and carry Aaron away.
Rhaz poked at his food. If they knew of a Nemthra, that was exactly what they would do. In fact, as Basil, Hana, and Dandy served the main course, it occurred to him that Aaron might indeed be in danger.
If anyone had witnessed he and Basil being swallowed by a door and whisked away, his father, along with King Iskareth, might well be attempting to create a portal of their own in order to retrieve him. If they succeeded and reached this realm...
“Rhaziel? Prince?” Anon asked with concern.
Rhaz sucked in a breath. “I am... sorry. I was lost in my thoughts.”
“I think you mean lost in thought,” Quill corrected. He studied him for a moment. “Does something trouble you?”
Rhaz looked around the table. The setting was cozy, the people gathered here truly like a family.
“It is nothing.” And so far, it was. Still, he would need to speak with Basil and then Quill and determine whether such a thing was possible.
After all, if Quill so far hadn’t been unable to create a portal or door to return himself and his prince home, how could Rhaz’s father hope to accomplish it?
He would need to send envoys into realms inhabited by powerful magic users and pay handsomely for their services. If Father somehow managed to arrive here, he would find him and Basil and take them home.
But if King Iskareth arrived first, he might burn Moon Creek Falls to the ground.
“Rhaz?” Quill asked again. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
He nodded. Time to change the subject. “The girl, Phin. Does she live here?”
He glanced around the table and took a bite of food. Every head turned in his direction. Even Basil stopped halfway to the kitchen and slowly turned around.
“Phin Ironwood?” Anon asked. “Yes. Were you not listening while we spoke with her? She just finished college. A place of higher learning, if you’re wondering.”
“Higher learning?” Basil scoffed. “What does a human female need with—OW!”
Dandy stood beside him looking thoughtfully toward the ceiling. “The house is awfully quiet this evening, don’t you think?” She shifted her gaze to Anon.
“Yes,” Anon agreed. “I imagine it’s because our boy here is doing what he does as a Nemthra.” He smiled at Aaron.
Aaron looked up from his food. “What am I doing?”
Anon gave him what Rhaz would describe as a fatherly smile. “You are simply being yourself. Now finish your dinner.”
Aaron obediently returned to his meal. If this truly was a family, then Anon was undoubtedly the father and the others his children. He noted that Anon and Quill were the only unmated males present. The others all resided with their human mates.
That same pang of envy struck him again, making his chest ache. His dream returned to him, bringing thoughts of Phin Ironwood with it.
Small. Feisty. Capable. At least as far as he knew. He had never met a human female like her. Not that he’d met many.
The few he had encountered belonged to someone. But here there were hundreds of them. Perhaps thousands.
Rhaz drew in a slow breath. Even his father would be tempted to steal some away. And King Iskareth...
He didn’t want to think about what the king of white dragons would do. If he had to guess, he’d round the humans all up, carry them back to his kingdom, and enslave the males. The females would be kept as pets.
“You really ought to think about lying down,” Quill suggested.
“My prince!” Basil came running from the kitchen. “Are you ill? I can assure you it is not because of my cooking. You saw me test everything for you!”
“I am fine, Basil. A little overwhelmed, that’s all.” He offered the gnome a weak smile. “And tired, of course.”
“Then perhaps you should be off to bed,” Anon suggested. “Rest. In the morning Quill and I can show you around town. Perhaps even introduce you to some of the locals.”
Aaron’s eyes brightened. “I would like to invite your dragon to dinner. You too, of course. It is secluded where Betty and I live. Your dragon can play there.”
Rhaz couldn’t help but smile at the boy’s innocence. Aaron was so pure that thoughts of his father and King Iskareth invading this place made Rhaz’s stomach twist.
King Iskareth would attempt to enslave Aaron as well. That was, assuming such a thing could be done.
Rhaz closed his eyes for a moment and swallowed hard.
“Well?” Aaron asked. “Will you?”
Rhaz opened his eyes and looked at him. “It would be our honor, Aaron.” He smiled. “My dragon would very much like to meet you.”
Aaron beamed and kissed Betty on the cheek. “I’m going to play with a dragon!” He looked around the table, his smile firmly in place, radiating such happiness that all of Rhaz’s worries quietly slipped away.