Chapter 10

The day whizzed by in a flash, and before I knew it, it was time to meet the other Dragons. I sat at my vanity, nervously running an ivory brush through my hair. This was my first face-to-face encounter with them.

I had met Lord Niles before, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the others would be like him and Navine, both of whom exuded strength and pride. I guess all alphas would, at least from what I knew of them.

I studied my reflection as I set my brush down. It was odd to see the Fae staring back at me. She looked so mature, so composed and beautiful with her long sun-kissed hair cascading down her back and shoulders, and her dark green dress shimmering.

The golden chain around my head twinkled gently in the dim light of the room, the white diamond pendant doing the same. I looked like I fit right into this high-class world. It was a far cry from the simple life I had led with my family and Anika.

The door creaked open, and I straightened in my chair as Navine entered. He didn’t look any more formal than usual, but then again, he always dressed impeccably. His white shirt hugged his muscular chest and shoulders, contrasting with his black pants and boots.

“Are you still getting ready?” he asked, approaching me.

“No, I’m ready. I was just lost in my thoughts,” I admitted, lowering my gaze.

Navine knelt in front of me, holding my hands. “There’s no need to be so nervous. I’m sure they’ll be respectful, and I won’t tolerate anything less,” he reassured me.

“I trust they’ll be kind. I just hope they’ll accept me as yours. I’m just a simple Fae woman,” I sighed.

Navine stood, cupping my face and planting a kiss between my eyes. “You’re too hard on yourself. You’re anything but simple or ordinary. You’re no less than any of us. Everyone has worth, and you mean everything to me.”

His words were so heartfelt, it was hard to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes. I wanted to believe he meant every word.

“Thank you. I feel a bit better now,” I confessed.

“I’m glad,” Navine said, flashing a comforting smile. He reached into his pocket. “I have a gift for you.”

He produced a stunning necklace and fastened it around my neck. The chain was silver, and a large gold sun pendant dangled from it.

“It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, admiring it in the mirror.

“I wanted to give you something personal. What better than a symbol of who you are?” Navine said, brushing my hair over my shoulders.

“I love it,” I said, beaming at him.

Navine wrapped his arms around me. “I’m glad. I plan on spoiling you with many more gifts.”

“You spoil me too much,” I teased.

“And I enjoy every bit of it,” Navine replied. He gave me a quick peck before taking my hands. “Let’s go greet our guests.”

I nodded, letting him lead me out of our room.

The palace felt light and airy as we descended the stairs toward the courtyard doors. It was a beautiful day, perfect for our outdoor gathering. Navine preferred the courtyard for its spaciousness and privacy, despite having ample room inside his palace.

The courtyard looked fantastic, thanks to the local Dwarves who also called this mountain home. They were some of the only other nonferal creatures living here, well adapted to the climate and dangers.

I admired their industriousness, especially as they set up the large glass table and chairs and tidied up the courtyard until it was spotless.

As we were about to leave, the air was filled with the sound of large wings flapping. Navine and I looked up to see a figure soaring toward the courtyard. It was Lord Niles, the first to arrive.

“I see you’ve had a change of heart,” he remarked, landing near us and folding his massive dark wings against his back.

“Raelina wanted to meet everyone, so I couldn’t say no,” Navine replied.

“I wouldn’t think so,” Lord Niles conceded, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He turned to me. “You look as beautiful as ever, my lady. That necklace suits you.”

“Thank you. It’s a gift from Navine,” I responded.

“So that’s what you were crafting the other night when I dropped by,” Lord Niles observed.

“Yes, it was,” Navine confirmed.

Lord Niles looked around. “I assume the others have agreed to come, given the preparations.”

“They have. I got confirmation from all of them last night. I think they were as shocked as you that I invited them here, and even more so about why,” Navine answered.

“I can imagine. As I said, none of us expected you to take a bride. But I can’t see any of them having a problem with Raelina once they meet her,” Lord Niles stated.

“I hope not. I hope they’ll accept me without much fuss, even though I’m not a Dragon or a Beta,” I added.

“There’s no need for you to worry about that. You belong here, and no one will say otherwise. I’m sure of it,” Lord Niles assured me.

Navine put a hand on his hip. “That said, Mordecai’s response was unexpected. He seemed eager to meet her.”

“Really? I thought Mordecai was never eager about anything. He always seems indifferent,” Lord Niles responded.

“He’s hard to read, isn’t he? But I guess even he can be curious under the right circumstances,” Navine mused.

“I’d be more worried about Lorelei’s reaction. She thought you’d never marry, and I can only imagine how smitten she’ll be with Raelina,” Lord Niles continued.

“Speaking of,” Navine said, looking up as another figure descended from the sky. Unlike Lord Niles, this figure was a vision in red. Even from this distance, it was easy to identify her.

The female Dragon who landed gracefully near us was stunning. Almost as tall as her male counterparts, she had long fiery red hair that cascaded down her back and expressive eyes with bright scarlet irises and black sclera.

Her hourglass figure was perfectly outlined by her shimmering deep red sheer gown, which was accentuated by the golden jewelry she wore.

“I assume you were talking about me,” she said, folding her large crimson wings behind her.

“We were, but nothing we wouldn’t say to your face,” Lord Niles assured her.

“It better not be, even if it’s rude,” the female Dragon grumbled. She dropped the subject as her gaze turned to Navine and me. “But enough of that. Your invitation yesterday certainly piqued my interest, Navine. Is this lovely young lady the bride you mentioned?”

“She is. Her name is Raelina, if you remember,” Navine replied curtly.

“Raelina,” the Dragon repeated my name thoughtfully. She stepped closer to introduce herself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, dear. I am Lorelei, the Crimson Dragon, often referred to as the Queen of the Dragons.”

“They consider you a queen too?” I was taken aback. I thought that title was reserved for Lady Lana, Lord Jekia’s wife.

“They do. The people here often call her the Crimson Queen, but it’s mostly out of respect. She’s as loved as Lana is,” Navine explained.

“And I love them just as much. We are nothing without each other, whether strong or weak. Everyone has value,” Queen Lorelei declared.

I felt a sense of calm wash over me. She seemed down-to-earth and not at all stuck-up, which was a relief considering her beauty and power.

“Queen Lorelei, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, giving a respectful nod of my head.

“Easy there, no need for formalities,” Lorelei said, her smile warm and inviting. She gently lifted my chin with her fingers.

“You’re quite the beauty, aren’t you? You’re definitely Fae, but I can’t quite pinpoint your type.”

“I’m the last of the Sun Fae,” I told her.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You’re the survivor I heard about years ago?”

Navine chimed in. “You seem taken aback by this news.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s shocking enough that you’d take a bride, let alone the sole survivor of that tragedy,” Lorelei retorted.

“I don’t see the issue. It might be better for her to be here, especially considering our own precarious situation,” a new male voice interjected.

I turned, along with the others, to see another male Dragon seated at a nearby table. He wasn’t as tall as Navine or Lord Niles, but his physique was just as impressive beneath his slightly loose light blue shirt. His hair and wings were a silver streaked with teal, and his eyes were black with silver irises.

The Silver Dragon? I thought. How did he manage to sneak in without any of us noticing?

Navine seemed slightly annoyed as he addressed the newcomer. “Didn’t I ask you to stop sneaking into my home?”

“I didn’t sneak in. You invited me and I came. It’s not my fault you were too engrossed in conversation to notice me,” the Dragon replied, his tone casual and unconcerned.

“Are you the Silver Dragon, Mordecai?” I asked.

“I am,” Mordecai confirmed, not bothering to stand. “And you must be Raelina, Navine’s new bride. You’re quite lovely. Your hair reminds me of the sun and your eyes of the sky. It’s comforting in a way.”

Lorelei sighed. “Mordecai can come off as rude sometimes, but he doesn’t mean any harm. He just doesn’t think much about manners. Sometimes I think he’s a bit lacking in that department.”

“That’s not very nice, Lorelei,” Mordecai countered, his monotone voice not helping his case.

Navine and Lord Niles chuckled quietly, clearly amused by the exchange. I found myself smiling too. This was much more relaxed than I had anticipated.

But as I looked around, I noticed one Dragon was missing. The one who had been so eager to meet me. I held my tongue, not wanting to disrupt the light-hearted atmosphere.

“However,” Navine interjected, giving Mordecai a stern look, “I’d appreciate it if you made your presence known in advance. It’s dangerous to enter someone’s territory unannounced, even if you were invited.”

“If that’s how you feel, I apologize. I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation when I arrived,” Mordecai said, partially conceding.

“How did you manage to get here without any of us noticing?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Mordecai has a knack for stealth and speed. He can slip into almost any place unnoticed. He’s also quite good at keeping his wings silent during flight, a skill I must admit I envy,” Navine explained.

“That’s amazing,” I said, genuinely impressed.

“I like to think so, even if I’m not at the top of the pecking order here,” Mordecai said, studying me with a tilted head. “You’re even prettier than I imagined. You remind me of the sky, and your aura is as gentle as spring. I find myself drawn to you, even though I barely know you. I wonder if others feel the same way.”

“Mordecai, that’s a pretty big compliment coming from you,” Lord Niles remarked.

“Is it wrong for me to compliment her?” Mordecai asked, his face a picture of genuine confusion.

I couldn’t help but giggle. My hand flew to my mouth to muffle the sound. Lorelei chuckled softly, too.

“Mordecai, you take everything so seriously. But it’s kind of sweet that you’re so open with your thoughts,” she said.

“It is, and I’m glad you all seem to approve of me. I know Navine choosing a bride might have been unexpected, especially since I’m just a Sun Faerie. But I promise to do my best by his side,” I assured them.

“You don’t need to worry about what you are. As I’ve said before, my choice is what matters. Everyone here knows to respect that,” Navine reminded me.

“We do respect that, usually. Except for one person,” Lord Niles added.

Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping filled the air. We all looked up to see a figure approaching. The first thing I noticed was the vibrant colors of their large wings. They were like nothing I’d ever seen before, sparkling like multicolored diamonds.

“Looks like he decided to show up after all. Better late than never, I suppose,” Mordecai murmured.

I glanced at Navine, noticing his eyes narrowing. He’d probably been hoping Lord Dominick would give us a miss this time, that something would have prevented him from coming.

Lord Dominick was an impressive sight as he landed near us. He was as tall and muscular as Navine and Lord Niles, and just as well dressed in a dark red shirt and black pants. His blonde hair framed his handsome face, and his eyes sparkled with a rainbow of colors. A smile played on his lips as he looked at us, amusement clear in his voice.

“Well, I’m later than I thought. Even Mordecai beat me here.”

“I did give you a rough time, and I assumed you had something else to do and wouldn’t make it. So, I wasn’t worried,” Navine replied curtly.

Lord Dominick shrugged off Navine’s coldness. “Always so frosty,” he said, stepping forward to stand in front of me.

“And you must be Navine’s beautiful new bride. Raelina, right?”

“Yes, that’s me,” I confirmed.

“How interesting. Not only did Navine choose a Fae for a bride, but her first name starts with an R,” Lord Dominick observed.

I was puzzled by his comment. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“There’s no need to ask. He’s just talking nonsense, as usual,” Navine interrupted, pulling me closer to him. “You should show more respect.”

“Who says I’m not? Sounds like you’re trying to keep me away from her before we even get to know each other,” Lord Dominick retorted.

“I’d rather she didn’t know you at all,” Navine shot back.

“Enough, both of you. There’s no need to start arguing the moment you see each other. Today is about getting to know Raelina,” Lorelei scolded them.

Lord Dominick didn’t seem bothered by any of this. “I didn’t mean to start an argument. I was just pointing out an irony. But I’ll back off for Raelina’s sake. You’re right, today is her special day. She’s been chosen by the strongest among us, and she’s now one of us.”

“How generous of you,” Lorelei replied, her tone skeptical.

I looked up at Navine. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were filled with anger toward his fellow Dragon. Maybe it was time for me to step in.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lord Dominick. Just like it’s been nice to meet everyone here,” I said, stepping closer to him and hoping Navine wouldn’t stop me.

Lord Dominick smiled and gave me a polite bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too. I was pleasantly surprised to hear about you, and you’re as beautiful as I imagined.”

“Your words are too kind,” I replied, flashing him a smile that I hoped was convincing.

But I couldn’t shake off the unease that was gnawing at me from within. There was something about this Dragon that didn’t sit right with me, and I didn’t think it was just because of the way Navine and the others talked about him.

“However,” Lord Dominick resumed, straightening his posture, “this is quite unexpected, Navine. She’s undoubtedly a sight for sore eyes, but you’ve been adamant for centuries that you wouldn’t marry. I can’t believe her beauty alone changed your mind. Or does she remind you of someone?”

“What?” I was taken aback. “What are you implying?”

“He’s just trying to stir the pot. That’s his usual game, especially when it involves me,” Navine reassured me, stepping closer and placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

Lord Dominick’s smile vanished. “Are you accusing me of causing trouble? I thought we were all on the same team. Or have you changed your mind since Lyric took over the Eastern Lands and started his own family?”

“My decisions are my own, just like everyone else here, and I won’t let you or anyone else meddle with me and Raelina,” Navine retorted.

“That sounds like a dare,” Lord Dominick replied, a playful tone in his voice.

“Oh boy, here we go again,” I heard Lord Mordecai mutter.

I was gently ushered aside by Lorelei as Lord Niles stepped in between them. He looked ready for anything as he addressed them.

“Enough. We don’t need any conflict among us, and it would be highly disrespectful to Raelina,” he admonished.

“I couldn’t agree more,” a male voice suddenly chimed in.

We all turned to our right as a mist rose from the grass, revealing two figures. One reminded me of Lord Jekia’s Mage, Emelio, with his tan skin, bright blue eyes, brown pants, and black shirt. His dark brown hair fell into his eyes, and I could see horns curving from his head.

But it was the other one who really caught my eye. He wasn’t as tall as Navine or the other male Dragons, but his golden eyes were strikingly similar to Navine’s, even though his scales were white. His hair was the same color as Navine’s, but with light blue streaks.

~Hold on!~ I thought, a realization dawning on me. ~Navine’s brother is the father of the Eastern ruler! This must be Lord Lyric!~

None of the Dragons seemed overly impressed by him. Instead, Lord Mordecai greeted him like an old friend.

“Lyric, what a surprise. Did Navine invite you too without telling us?” he asked.

“Not at all. I just thought I’d pay Navine a visit after hearing some intriguing news from Jekia. But it seems my timing was perfect, as usual,” Lord Lyric replied.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Navine conceded. He turned back to Lord Dominick. “If you want to continue this discussion, we can do so later. I won’t ignore a visit from a ruler, especially one who is also family.”

“Fair enough. I might take you up on that,” Lord Dominick responded. He looked up at the sky, spreading his wings. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay much longer. I have a prior commitment. It was nice meeting you, Raelina. I hope we can talk more. I’d love to get to know you.”

“That would be nice,” I agreed, more to appease him than anything else.

Navine shot him a glare but remained silent as Lord Dominick soared into the sky. Lord Lyric watched him leave, a slight frown on his face.

“He’s as relentless as ever,” he commented quietly.

“Sadly,” Navine agreed.

As for me, I found the whole situation strange. Why would Lord Dominick come all this way just to leave after a few minutes? I wondered if he left because Lord Lyric arrived and he didn’t want him to interfere with the argument he was clearly trying to provoke with Navine.

“Anyway,” Navine went on, even as my thoughts were elsewhere. “I didn’t mean to be impolite by not inviting you to meet Raelina today. I figured it would be best if it was just us.”

“Really? You didn’t invite Lyric? That’s quite the coincidence,” Lorelei chimed in.

“As I’ve said before, I pride myself on my perfect timing,” Lyric responded, unruffled. “I didn’t come here with any grudges about not being invited. I knew Navine would get around to it eventually. Plus, I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.”

Lord Niles saw right through him, just like I did. “You’re here because you heard about this and were worried there might be trouble between Navine and Dominick, right?” he speculated.

Lyric didn’t deny it. “Yes. I wanted to intervene if necessary, but I’ll admit, my curiosity got the better of me.” He turned to face me. “You’re the one Jekia took in when those lycans were causing chaos here, aren’t you?”

“I am,” I replied, remembering my manners. I bowed my head and introduced myself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Lyric. I’m Raelina.”

“There’s no need for such formality,” Navine interjected, placing a comforting hand on my back. “Lyric is related to you by blood, so you should treat him more like family than royalty.”

“I’d prefer that too,” Lyric agreed, giving me a warm smile.

“Well then,” Lord Niles interjected. “If you have the time, would you stay while we finish this meeting? I’d like to discuss a few things with Raelina present, and we could use your perspective.”

“That works for me, if Navine agrees,” Lyric said, nodding.

“Yes. I think it would be helpful if you could stay,” Navine concurred. He gestured toward the nearby table. “Let’s all sit down. The afternoon is getting on—and there are matters we need to discuss before we go our separate ways.”