Chapter Twenty-one #2
Sakaris grimaced. “Not all the disappearing mages actually died. Many now work for Urien, or had their magic stolen by Gwythyr. Which is why I sent Zorah and others here, to keep them out of his hands. This conflict has been brewing since my fledgling days.”
“You were a fledgling?” Zorah elbowed Sakaris in the ribs.
“What of the alphas?” Daire asked. “Urien can’t truly give them courts. They know that, right? Not without the Goddess’s blessing.”
Sakaris emitted a weary sigh, lips pursed.
He didn’t answer for several moments, then spoke slowly, as though carefully weighing each word.
“They’ve taken territories formerly controlled by others, stealing hoards and forcing betas and omegas to bend to their will.
The people are downtrodden. They hope for a miracle. They’d accept so little at this point.”
Just because Sakaris helped Jimryr didn’t mean he wasn’t working toward his own agenda, like remaking Adrakus with mages in charge. Better to reserve judgment until he’d proven himself.
Then again, Jimryr’s dragon didn’t bristle. Sometimes animal instinct outweighed logic and thought.
Daire sprawled in his chair, stretching. His shirt climbed upward, displaying a few inches of unmarred skin on his abs. He asked with a jaw-cracking yawn, “Why are you free of Urien?”
“Because I’m an excellent actor, working behind the scenes to undermine him. Why do you think no one’s found you or your brothers?”
“So, the ordinary people aren’t loyal to their leaders?” Daire took Jimryr’s cup again and downed half the brew.
If he hadn’t been so thrown by the circumstances, Jimryr would’ve gotten Daire a cup of his own. Then again, sharing brought a smug sense of pride, seeing other dragons witness their bond, knowing they were together.
Sakaris continued, “The people aren’t loyal. They’ll overthrow the false kings at the first chance. While Elouan focuses on becoming the leader he always should have been, you and Jimryr will bring a portion of the army we’ll need to take back our world.”
“Are we ready? What about my brothers? You said we each had a role.” Daire suddenly appeared very awake, leaning forward, paying rapt attention.
“Ah, your brothers.” Sakaris rested his cup on his knee. “You each had a part to play in the saving of our realm. You, a beta warrior, along with your mate, will help unite many courts under one banner, and will add more once you return home.”
“You said Elouan had a mate. He needed one to be king, didn’t he?” Jimryr asked. “Isn’t that what you said, Daire?”
“Yes, it’s tradition, but the Goddess also has to bless the mate before a king can rule. Or that used to be how things worked. I’m glad Elouan found one and can’t wait to give him grief about it.” Daire returned his attention to Sakaris. “Is he still in the dragon realm?”
“He was here among the humans until recently.”
“What!” Daire bolted from his chair. “Then why couldn’t I find him?”
"You weren't supposed to," Sakaris replied without flinching under Daire’s fury. “You and your brothers needed time to evolve before combining your talents.”
Daire turned to Zorah. “Did you know?”
“I did, but I also didn’t know you at the time. I provided the forged documents he’d need to establish a Terran identity. Sakaris delivered them, so I never met your brother.”
Daire sank back down into his chair. “How could he find a mate in the human world?”
Sakaris gave an enigmatic smile. “You did, didn’t you? He and his mate have already returned and are working toward our endgame. Zorah and I will begin sending our warriors through a portal.”
“What of Anrai?”
“Anrai, too, has a task as yet unfulfilled. He remained in the dragon world.”
“You said he was safe?” Daire’s knuckles turned white with the force of his grip on the coffee cup.
“He’s among Jimryr’s friends.” Sakaris shifted his gaze to Jimryr. “Jimryr, do you trust them?”
Friends? “Mystral? He’s with Mystral? Of course I do!” Jimryr trusted her with his life.
“Yes, all of your little haphazard court survived the battle, and have added new members.”
“What’s going on there? I need to know everything.” Mystral survived. The not-quite-a-court survived. Hope remained.
“And Anrai?” Daire insisted. “What’s his role?”
“Alphas have long discounted omegas, but ignoring them is risky. Rest assured, Anrai is honoring the family name, and the name of the Goddess of Fire.”
Only then did Jimryr notice Zorah and Sakaris holding hands. Their closeness gave away plenty. They’d also sacrificed for the cause. Both had been there for Jimryr when he needed them and had remained separated for years.
They could’ve confided in him. “Tell me. When did I become a part of your plans?”
Sakaris and Zorah exchanged a glance. Zorah acted as spokesperson.
“You were an unknown until you took a side. Sakaris hadn’t planned to pull you through the portal; he’d only intended to save Daire, but once we had you, we realized how you could fit into our plans. The Goddess approved of the choice.”
What the fuck? Jimryr narrowed his eyes. “I’m not a fucking chess piece.”
“No, you’re not,” Zorah agreed. “I’m sorry if we’ve treated you as one. But chess requires strategy, similar to the war we’re waging.”
“What of the alpha who scarred Daire and killed his friend?” Jimryr wanted five minutes with the sumbitch. Yes, he’d finally learned the meaning of the word.
The expression Sakaris gave wasn’t at all pleasant. “I believe it best to spare you the details.” He smugly took another sip of coffee. “Suffice it to say, he’s now considered a cautionary tale. Who knew a simple spell could turn a dragon inside out?”
“Ah, there’s my bloodthirsty mage,” Zorah murmured with alarming pride and a few pats to the back.
Inside out? Mages could do that? “Remind me not to piss Sakaris off,” Jimryr side-whispered to Daire.
Sakaris lifted his head, making eye contact. “Like everyone else on our side of the conflict, I willingly do what is required for the good of all and rely on the Goddess to judge my intentions.” He clinked his coffee cup against Zorah’s. “Now for the bad news….”
Jimryr steadied Daire to keep him from falling from his chair. “What bad news?”
“Forty loyal High Reaches dragons languish in Urien’s cells. They’re due to be executed next week.”
“Executed? How?” How did one execute so many dragons? Send them to the Goddess for judgment?
The color left Daire’s face. He answered in a hollow voice. “Without the element of surprise, as with my father, executioners will force them to shift, break their wings, and toss them off a cliff.”
“Not on my watch,” Jimryr blurted, recalling how his brother died. Then he realized what he’d said, and the implied commitment. Didn’t matter. Once he considered the issue for a moment, he meant every word.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” A smirk spread across Sakaris’s face, the kind some folks referred to as a cat that ate the canary. “I’ll start moving our people soon, then you’ll receive your missions.”
Something Jimryr wondered about earlier came back to him, but Daire got there first. “I have a question. Zorah is an alpha, but you’re a beta. I know it’s not forbidden, but….”
“But you wonder why she’s with me?” Sakaris’ smirk shifted into a fond smile. “If I’ve fooled someone their entire life, Prince Daire, I take it as a compliment and won’t divulge my secrets.”
“You’re not a beta?” The disbelief on his face made Daire appear far younger.
“I am not.” Sakaris shook his shaggy head. “I’ve learned to hide my alpha nature. And before you ask, yes, your father knew.”
“But why?”
“If you were an unpopular king like Urien, an alpha mage in your court would pose the biggest threat, which is why so many of us were killed. I could hide. Zorah couldn’t, thus, our choices. Even so, it will take our combine forces to overcome Gwythyr, with all his stolen magic.”
Daire rose from his chair, settling on the arm of Jimryr’s. “What’s next?”
Zorah stood, placing her empty cup on the coffee table. “Get all your affairs in order and come to Atlanta with us. Many dragons have already gathered there, and others still train in the woods. We’ve much to do.”