Chapter 27

MADELINE

“Did you ever get anything from Faustina?” I question Lochness, as we sit across from each other in a booth adorned with lovely vines. We’re in an inn as grand as a castle, with rafters that I find quite charming.

Hael has gone off to chat with the staff, and before Lochness can answer, a procession of men carrying dish after dish appears. They lay out a feast in front of us that could feed an entire family.

“What’s all this about?” I ask Nessy, puzzled by the larger table they had reserved at the inn. Lochness just winks at me, and soon after, I feel a familiar, warm hand on my shoulder.

A soft, masculine voice whispers in my mind, ~Hello, gorgeous little monkey.~ Oh, my! I turn around to find my cousin Summer and her Dragon Lords, Aneurin and Dane.

“Surprise, Madeline!” Summer exclaims, and I leap up to hug her tightly. I wrap my arms around her neck, squeezing her so hard I might just take her breath away.

“I’m so thrilled to see you again,” I say, tears streaming down my face. I let go of Summer and jump into Aneurin’s arms, his golden hair cascading over my shoulders as I hug him tightly.

“Hello, Goldy! I love you! I miss you!” I exclaim.

“You’re pregnant!” Goldy exclaims, stepping back to look at me. “Goodness.”

“Mmhm.” I nod and grin, moving on to Dane. He’s standing with his arms crossed over his tunic, his dark hair neatly combed back.

I hug him a bit more gently, and he wraps an arm around my shoulders, giving me a quick squeeze.

“Maddie,” Dane says, patting my head and guiding me back to the booth.

I take Summer’s hand and slide into the booth with her. I sit by the window, with Summer next to me and Goldy at the end of the table.

Dane and Hael exchange glances, both waiting for the other to sit next to Lochness, who scoots over to make room.

“Your missing twin?” Dane asks, breaking the silence.

“Lochness,” Hael introduces him. “Yes, he was missing, but not anymore. He’s Madeline’s mate too.”

“Nice to meet you,” Summer says, reaching over to shake Lochness’s hand.

“The rat’s cousin?” Nessy asks. “A fellow rat.”

Goldy straightens up. “Princess Summer is far from rat-like,” he defends.

“You’re the gold dragon?” Lochness asks. “Rare, aren’t you? You act like it. All high and mighty. Prince Aneurin,” Lochness manages to make it sound like an insult, smirking. “And your brother, is he a rogue?”

“I don’t necessarily act like one,” Dane interjects, taking the seat next to Lochness since Hael refuses to sit in the middle.

“Whose idea was this?” I ask, tapping my fingers on the table, eager to start eating.

“Ours,” Hael and Lochness answer simultaneously. “Well, mine and then he agreed,” Hael adds. “Dig into the feast while it’s hot.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Dane says, filling his plate. He looks at Summer thoughtfully as she picks at her food, and he helps her select the best slices of meat.

He does the same for me, before my mates can help.

“Enjoy,” Dane winks at me, and I smile.

“Thank you, how is your sister, Alexa?” I ask.

“She’s taking care of the Horde,” Dane replies. “She sends you many well wishes.”

“I wish you’d visit the Dusk Horde more often, you should come in the Summer months so we can enjoy days out together,” Summer suggests.

“I would have to ask my Masters first,” I respond so quickly that I don’t realize how it sounds until Dane, Goldy, and Summer freeze in their movements.

Hael covers his face with one hand, seemingly embarrassed for me as he distracts himself by asking for more wine.

“Are you still a slave in the Horde?” Summer asks me. “Cleaning duties and such – ?”

“No,” I answer, and I wish I had said yes, because now I see her blushing. If you weren’t a slave cleaning or working, you were one other type of slave…

“Oh, a-and, h-how… is the… um… pregnancy coming along?” Summer changes the subject.

“I’m going to have twins,” I explain. “My mates are nesting with me while Adara runs Requiem –”

“Unnecessary information, mouse,” Hael interrupts me with a dismissive flick of his wrist. ~Don’t let them know our weaknesses, Maddie, they are still a rival Horde.~

“I’m a princess of Requiem and they are my allies,” I retort, glaring at Hael. “They are not your enemies.”

“We have never been on good terms,” Dane tells me, laughing deeply. “We’re only here for you, little monkey.” Lochness, looking annoyed at the company, just stares at me as he eats a chicken wing.

~Why do they call you little monkey?~ Lochness asks me.

~Because I met them as a child and liked adventures even then,~ I reply. ~Summer and I are the same. Well, she’s a real princess. I’m just… whatever I am.~

Lochness crunches into the bones, eating them too. ~She’s pretty.~

~I know,~ I glare at Lochness and he winks.

~Like you, mouse,~ Lochness adds.

“What is it you do?” Aneurin asks Lochness. Nessy lazily turns his gaze to Goldy. He doesn’t answer, though. So I do.

“Nessy is very solitary in his activities,” I tell Goldy. “He doesn’t have any friends.” Lochness almost chokes on a bone and has to hit his chest with his fist.

~Rat,~ Lochness sneers. ~Don’t insult me.~

~You don’t? It’s the truth?~

“I suppose you must guard all that Requiem treasure Hael has amassed,” Goldy suggests. “Who would you say is more influential in the territory, you or your brother?” Lochness shrugs, still refusing to speak to him again.

Hael sighs, and I hear him tapping a foot under the table. Dane just looks very frustrated about sitting between them.

“~I~ am the Dragon Lord of the Requiem Horde, Aneurin,” Hael’s voice is a low rumble. “As you’re well aware, I take what I want, do as I please, and keep the riffraff in check. No one escapes punishment, not even the ‘little monkey’ who dared to attack me that day… as you all recall.”

Hael’s gaze shifts to me. “I’ll never forget the fearless child she was. Who would have thought she’d grow up to be my mate?”

“Thankfully, she’s mellowed out now that she’s of age. Still a handful, though.”

“What do you mean by ‘mellowed out’, Dragon Lord Hael?” I question, stabbing my fork into my steak and slicing it with a knife.

“Perhaps not in public,” Lochness murmurs so softly that everyone strains to hear. “But in private, yes.”

I slide my foot over his. ~Please, stop.~

Nessy smirks but complies.

We all continue eating, engaging in light conversation, carefully avoiding any mention of Summer or me – it seems to ruffle their feathers to compare their women.

Summer and I exchange amused glances amidst the palpable tension between our Dragon Lords.

By the time the feast is over, Dane claps his hands together. “And we’re off.”

“Ah—” Summer starts to protest, but Aneurin takes her hand.

“We’ll see you another time, beautiful little monkey,” Goldy reassures her, helping Summer out of the booth. He bids me farewell with a gentle swipe of his thumb across my cheek and a warm smile.

~You’re welcome to visit us anytime,~ Goldy communicates privately to me, and I simply nod.

Hael springs up, slapping Dane on the shoulder a bit too forcefully as they head for the exit.

“Until next time…” Hael waves, muttering to himself, “…the Dusk Horde will always be second-rate…” He then turns to watch Lochness, who is pressing his fingers to his temple, his eyes creased at the corners.

~We should leave,~ I suggest to Hael. ~Too many people, too many thoughts for him.~

~Wait,~ Lochness opens his eyes. ~Wait,~ “…you,” he focuses on one of the taller, more robust staff members, a man with a friendly smile.

“Yes, how can I assist you?” The man catches the gold coin Lochness flips to him. “For ~me~, Lord?”

“Give that to your wife if you have one,” Lochness instructs cryptically. “Now, head down the north trail, immediately.” He smirks.

The waiter begins to tremble. “Please. No. ~Please~.”

“Go now.” Lochness narrows his eyes, watching the man run off.

“I’m confused, what did you pay him for?” I ask. “Why did you…” I shake my head. “I…”

It doesn’t click until we’re leaving the restaurant with our mates and Lochness heads down the north trail while Hael leads me down a different path through Haven.

Hael’s grip on my hand is firm, preventing me from following Nessy.

I try to pull away, but he tugs me along.

“He can’t be serious,” I can’t believe it. “Why would he choose him?”

“We weaken if we don’t consume enough of our natural diet,” Hael murmurs. “Don’t worry about it, Maddie.”

“But that man is so nice – how can Lochness eat someone so ~nice~? Why not a bad guy?”

Hael chuckles, shaking his head as we walk towards a line of trees. He adjusts his pace to match mine.

~We are the ‘bad guys’, darling,~ Hael releases my hand. ~We’re still Dragons. Sacrifices must be made indiscriminately.~

I watch as Hael transforms into his emerald Dragon form along a strip of grass by the forest. He casually strides over to the nearest house with an open yard.

In one swift move, he snatches up an unsuspecting man tending to his garden. The man’s screams are cut short by fire and a crunch, and then he’s gone.

~Mmm, delicious,~ Hael chuckles, finding amusement in the situation.

I—

Ugh. Why do I keep forgetting how Dragons eat?

I feel a wave of nausea and dizziness wash over me. I clench my fist and press it to my lips… I must be turning green.

My legs have been locked in place for too long, frozen in shock as I watch Hael. His bloody fangs glisten against his emerald snout.

With a growl that sounds more like a purr, Hael leans down to nudge his nose against my stomach – the smell of iron on his breath is revolting!

I can’t fight off the wave of dizziness that’s pulling me under.

~I’m going to faint,~ I warn Hael before I pass out. I feel his talons reach out and cradle me as my vision blurs.

I hear his sigh and his reprimand as he tilts his head to look at me with one eye. ~So dramatic, I can’t survive on carrots, mouse!~

~You could have eaten a sheep or a cow!~

~Where’s the fun in that, when surrounded by hordes of mice? I’m maintaining my reign of terror and my fearsome reputation!~

~You’re the one who’s dramatic,~ I whisper back, and then I’m out, haunted by the thought of the innocent lives lost!

My Twin Dragons, they can be so infuriating at times!