Chapter 17

“I’m not comfortable with this. There’s got to be more to his fascination with her.” Lorelei’s voice echoed with urgency down the hallway. I had just reached the end of it, right before the entrance to the parlor, when I heard her. I moved to the side, pressing myself against the wall to listen.

I wasn’t usually one to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t resist when the conversation was about me.

“I wouldn’t put it past him, darling, but there’s only so much we can do,” a male voice replied. “This ancient grudge is between Dominick and Navine. Unfortunately, this innocent Fae might get caught in the crossfire, even though she’s not to blame.”

I was sure this was Vlad. He sounded self-assured, even when his wife disagreed with him.

“That’s exactly what I’m worried about. Raelina is still so young and clueless about alpha feuds, especially one involving those two. We all know how ugly that can get,” Lorelei pointed out.

“Absolutely,” Vlad agreed. “It’s not that I’m not worried about her. I’m just concerned about our family getting dragged into this. Havana is too young to deal with any fallout Dominick might cause.”

Fallout? I wondered. What is he talking about?

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. For now, I just want to talk to Navine about everything,” Lorelei insisted.

“I’m sorry, but don’t you think he already knows? From what you’ve told me, he chose her pretty quickly. We both had our suspicions before. He must know that Dominick will figure it out and probably target her. I think it’s best if we stay out of it, for Havana’s sake at least.”

“You would really leave Raelina to deal with this alone?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that Navine will handle it.” I heard a few footsteps, as if he was moving closer to her, and his voice softened. “I get where you’re coming from, love, and you know I usually agree with you. I respect your authority and power. I just think this isn’t our fight.”

Lorelei seemed to struggle to argue against that. “I understand,” she conceded. “I just don’t want history to repeat itself. It was hard enough hearing about it the first time.”

That was enough for me. They didn’t need to keep arguing about me. I could handle this, even if I had to figure it out as I went along.

With that thought, I stepped out to join them.

“I get where you’re coming from, Lorelei, and it’s okay if you don’t want to get involved to keep Havana safe. Ultimately, this is our problem to deal with,” I said.

My gaze landed on the male Dragon standing next to Lorelei. Vlad was as impressive as the other males I’d met. He had an alpha’s presence, though not quite as strong as his wife’s, which was unusual.

That didn’t make him any less magnificent, though. He was tall, like Navine and Lord Niles, with a mane of hair that shifted between gold and red. He had scarlet wings like Lorelei, and his eyes were the same, with black sclera and red irises.

He wore a red satin shirt, dark pants, and boots that laced up to his knees. He had a regal air about him.

“Ah, hello,” he greeted me with a polite bow as I approached. “I apologize for not being here to welcome you when you arrived, my lady. I am Vlad, Lorelei’s eternally devoted husband.”

I curtsied in response, holding the sides of my skirt. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vlad. I’m Raelina,” I introduced myself.

“You’re quite a beauty. And well-spoken, too. One might think you were raised among the elite,” Vlad remarked.

“Who’s to say she wasn’t? She’s told me she’s close friends with Lord Jekia’s children. I’d imagine she’s quite familiar with high society,” Lorelei informed him.

“I’d like to believe I am,” I concurred, then turned my attention back to Vlad. “As I mentioned earlier, I get where you and Lorelei are coming from. I’m no stranger to the chaos that can ensue when alphas clash. But I can handle this. I’m not easily manipulated, and I won’t let Lord Dominick play me. My heart belongs to Navine and Navine alone.”

Vlad let out a resigned sigh, a smile of surrender gracing his features. “Well, well. Lorelei was spot on about your strong will.”

“Perhaps, but I see myself more as a survivor than anything else. Plus, I don’t take kindly to anyone stirring up trouble between Navine and me. I didn’t anticipate meeting him, but I’m thankful he walked into my life. I care deeply for him,” I declared.

“Believe me, sweetheart, no one ever plans to fall in love,” Lorelei chimed in. She moved to Vlad’s side, wrapping her arm around his and beaming up at him. “I was certain I’d always be alone, especially given my alpha status. It’s not like female alphas feel they can find a male equal. But the moment Vlad and I met, there was an undeniable spark, even though I tried to ignore it initially.”

Vlad chuckled at her words. “It took some effort on my part, but I never would’ve given up. I knew instantly that she was the one for me.”

He knew instantly. I found myself wondering if I had felt the same when I first met Navine. Maybe I had just convinced myself that I wanted to be with Navine to escape the pain of losing Rayne. Or maybe it was because my heart recognized him as the one.

“I think I’ve felt that with Navine too. We haven’t known each other for long, but being with him feels more like home than anywhere else since I was a child. That’s why I’m confident in saying that Lord Dominick won’t sway me from him. Navine is the one I’m meant to be with—end of story,” I asserted.

Vlad looked impressed. “If you don’t mind me saying, you’re quite extraordinary, considering everything you’ve been through. Just be careful. Dominick isn’t one to back down easily.”

“No, he certainly isn’t.”

Navine’s voice made me tense up. I couldn’t bring myself to look up at him. How had I missed his arrival?

Lorelei frowned, her gaze shifting to the windows above the nearby door. “What is it with you all sneaking into my palace? I’m starting to think I should hire some Spiders for security!” she grumbled.

“I’m sure you sensed my arrival. You’re better at it than most,” Navine teased. I heard the rustle of his wings before he landed next to me. “That said, I did catch some of your conversation. Did Dominick drop by uninvited?”

There was no fooling him. I wondered just how much he had overheard.

Lorelei didn’t try to hide the truth. “Yes, he did. He said he was here to see Vlad, and I believe that was his intention. Thankfully, he didn’t stay long, but it was long enough to annoy me and Raelina.”

“It was, but words are just words in the end. And I think I got a glimpse of his true colors, so maybe it was worth it,” I chimed in.

“I’d agree,” Navine said. “While I like the idea of you getting along with most of us, it’s good to see you’re still on your guard.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? There are plenty of creatures who would stab you in the back with a smile on their face,” I reminded him.

“I’m sure she’s experienced that, Navine. She did mention she’s close to Jekia’s family. I can only imagine the dirty looks she’s received from some of the other females over the years,” Lorelei added.

Vlad chuckled. “Females can be quite ruthless when it comes to powerful males, can’t they?”

“It’s not just females. You know that,” Lorelei shot back, a playful smile on her face. She then turned to Navine. “Moving on, have you decided to come back for Raelina? It seems a bit soon.”

“Look, I get it,” Navine said, “but I wanted to bring her back home for now. There’s a Leviathan that’s been hanging around my neck of the woods, and I don’t want her getting tangled up in that mess.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced. His concern about the Leviathan seemed a little too convenient, but I kept my doubts to myself. I could always corner him later and ask what he was really up to.

“A Leviathan, huh?” Vlad chimed in. “Haven’t seen one of those in a hot minute. Is it anywhere near your mountain or the villages?”

“Not at the moment,” Navine replied. “But I’m going to double-check my barriers just to be safe. I’d rather avoid a fight if I can.”

“I second that,” Lorelei added. “Be careful, Navine. We all know you’re tough, but those things can be a real pain, especially if you have to fight them. We’ve all been there.”

“I’m aware,” Navine said, “and I’m not too proud to ask Emelio for help if I need it. But for now, I just want to get Raelina home where I know she’ll be safe.”

Lorelei looked skeptical. “Are you sure this isn’t about Dominick coming here? You know Vlad and I wouldn’t let him do anything.”

“I trust you,” Navine assured her. He ran his fingers through my hair. “This is just for my own peace of mind.”

“It’s okay, Lorelei,” I said. “I’ll come back to visit soon, and hopefully we can spend more time together.”

“I suppose,” Lorelei agreed, not entirely convinced.

Vlad smiled at her. “It’ll be okay, love. Navine’s right about keeping her safe, and I’m sure we can visit her at his place. Right?”

Navine raised an eyebrow. “That’s a big assumption. Who says I wouldn’t be possessive and keep you out?”

Vlad just smiled. “You might. But we know you, and you wouldn’t have let us keep her here if you didn’t trust us. So why would you stop us from visiting?”

I was starting to realize that Vlad wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with the Alpha Dragons. That was surprising. I would’ve thought he’d defer to them, especially since they were all male. But maybe he didn’t see the need. Or maybe he just refused to—for Lorelei’s sake and his own pride.

Navine seemed amused by Vlad’s audacity. “No, I wouldn’t do that, especially if it upset Raelina,” he admitted.

“It’s nice to know you care about my feelings,” I said, leaning against him. “And I understand where you’re coming from, even if I didn’t want to leave so soon. I just met Vlad.”

“I’m sorry, my dear,” Navine said. “And I’m not against you visiting again, or them visiting us. This is just about keeping you safe.”

“I guess,” I said, not entirely convinced.

“He’s right, darling,” Lorelei said. “Leviathans are rare, but they can cause a lot of trouble when they show up.” She crossed her arms and looked at Navine. “But you will let us visit her.”

“Of course,” Navine said. “I’m a Dragon of my word.”

We heard footsteps and turned to see Havana and Emily coming into the foyer. They must’ve overheard us.

“You’re leaving already?” Havana whined. “But you just got here!”

Navine knelt down and patted her head. “I know, but there are some things we need to be careful about right now. But you can visit your mom and dad soon, okay?”

“Promise?” Havana asked.

“I promise,” Navine said.

Emily stood nearby, wringing her hands. “It was really nice meeting you, Raelina. I hope to see you again soon,” she said.

“I feel the same,” I replied, mirroring her grin before turning to Lorelei and Vlad. “I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality. I’ve truly enjoyed my time with you.”

Lorelei wrapped me in a warm embrace. “And we with you. Please visit us again soon, and take care, sweetheart.”

Leaving felt like a mix of sweet and sour. I was ready to go home, but I also wanted to avoid any potential trouble with the Leviathan, if it was really out there. Plus, I needed to talk to Navine about everything that had happened.

Our return flight was a tad chillier than our journey there. The sky was overcast, and a wind had started to whip over the mountains and lush landscape. I gripped Navine’s shoulders as I began to speak.

“Tell me the truth; did you really come to get me because you’re worried about the Leviathan, or were you upset that Lord Dominick had been there?”

“A bit of both,” Navine confessed.

“How did you find out so quickly? Have you been watching us?” I needed to know. The thought of him spying on us was unsettling. If he had been watching, did he overhear my conversation with Lorelei?

“Not exactly. Emelio noticed during his daily checks and told me because he was concerned. He knows there could be problems if Dominick gets involved with you,” Navine explained.

“It seems that way. He wasn’t as pleasant as he seemed during our first meeting,” I sighed.

“What did he say to you?” Navine inquired.

“It wasn’t anything terrible,” I reassured him quickly. “He was just being a bit disrespectful to Lorelei, and I tried to put him in his place. Maybe it wasn’t my place to do so, but I don’t like backing down to men like that, even if they are an alpha.”

Navine chuckled. “I’m not surprised. You’re quite headstrong.”

“Oh? So I’m pretty and headstrong? How kind of you to notice,” I teased.

He laughed. “And quick-witted. I’ll give you that.”

He looked ahead as he continued, “But let’s be serious. I do have my concerns, and I’d prefer if you were careful around him. Standing up for yourself and others is commendable, but you should also know when to step back and let others handle it.”

“I guess you have a point. I’ll keep that in mind next time,” I conceded.

“Please do. I only say this because I care about you,” Navine told me.

I pondered over what to say next. Was it wise to bring this up while we were so high in the sky and it might upset him? But I couldn’t hold back.

“Why are you so worried about Dominick being around me, Navine? Is there something else I should know about him?”

Navine was silent for a few moments, and I wondered if he would even answer. His face was unreadable, giving nothing away.

“No, I think you know enough,” he finally said.

I looked away, unsure of how to react. Part of me wanted to confront him about what had happened with Rosaline so long ago, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not because we were high in the sky, but because of the inexplicable guilt gnawing at my conscience.

“If that’s what you believe, then I’ll respect it,” I conceded.

Navine kissed my temple. “Don’t be upset with me. You know I only want what’s best for you, my dear.”

“I know,” I agreed, kissing his cheek. “And it’s okay. I can’t say I’m eager to be around Lord Dominick after that, so we can let it go.”

Perhaps it wasn’t the smartest decision not to confront him about what Lorelei had told me. I probably should’ve been furious. But I wasn’t. Even if I was Rosaline’s reincarnation and that was why we were together, I couldn’t say I cared much.

All that mattered was that Navine was mine now, and I’d do whatever it took to keep our relationship happy.

What I didn’t anticipate was how history tends to repeat itself—or the lengths someone would go to sabotage our happiness.