News from Tarell

I hit the ground with a hard thud, causing all the air to rush from my body. I glared up at Hue where he stood over me, holding me at sword point. “Stop holding back,” he ordered.

“Who’s holding back?” I growled. “You’ve been doing this for a couple hundred years. I’m a marshmallow compared to you.”

He turned his eyes heavenward and muttered under his breath before extending a hand to help me up. “Alizeyah, you are the Princess of an Elven Kingdom. You lead the Royal Guard and I daresay any of them could take you in a fight. What aren’t you using your powers?”

“Because they’ve gotten stronger and I don’t want to hurt you,” I explained. He let go of my hand and let me fall back to the ground.

“Then you are holding back!” he snapped, throwing his hands into the air in frustration.

I sighed heavily from where I now sat on the ground looking up at him. “It’s not that I am holding back against you, it’s that I am holding back against everybody.”

Hue pursed his lips together for a moment and carefully lowered himself to the ground. He took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Everything you do from now on will affect other people. Every decision will result in something happening in the bigger picture. You are now responsible for these people just as I am responsible for the Dragon’s Nest. I will stay away as long as I safely can. Geren and Jura are both strong leaders, and Vallen will protect it with his life but eventually, I will have to return. It’s my responsibility.”

“What happens when the Nest decides they will not accept you because you are mated to me?” I asked.

“It won’t ever come to that,” he said firmly.

I studied my hand where he held it in his own. “It may. You may have to choose between me and the Nest.”

“No, it won’t come to that. I won’t let it.” He tugged me firmly, causing me to tumble forward across his lap. He raised a hand and brought it down with a firm but playful swat to my backside. “Mine,” he said with a laugh.

I let out a little “eep” at the surprise of it all, but didn’t struggle when he urged me to turn and rest on his lap. “That was uncalled for,” I told him.

He smiled with the boyish grin that always made me forget why I was upset with him. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. I’ve missed you. I feel like even though we are together again we are still apart.”

I thought about what he said. “I’m sorry. I haven’t made it easy. I’ve changed so much since all this began. I think I’m concerned you’ll see the real me and not want me any more.”

Hue released my hand and reached up to claim the back of my head and press his lips to mine. The kiss was hungry and intense. It shocked me, but also felt so right. My lips burned and I leaned into it, pressing my chest hard against him. His other hand gripped my hip and encouraged me to press harder into him. Our tongues danced in a swirl of passion until I found myself moaning into his mouth, wanting more. Hue leaned back, breaking the kiss, and rested his forehead against mine. “I could never stop wanting you. I could never stop loving you. I need you like fire needs air. I can not burn or exist without you,” he whispered intensely.

“Princess? My Lord? A messenger has arrived from Tarell seeking Lord Ian.” I looked up at Byron. My brother’s manservant had stayed behind when Aiden went to the Nest. Just now, he was interrupting a very precious moment.

“Byron, Lord Ian is away. Who is waiting for him?” I asked.

“Lana, his sister,” he answered. I processed the information slowly. I had never met Lana, but I knew she was the closest in age to myself of his siblings. Exchanging looks, with Hue I got up. When I offered him a hand he refused, it choosing to climb to his feet on his own. Stubborn Dragon. 

I know, he told me.

Leaving the troops with training instructions, we accompanied Byron back to the great hall to meet Lana. It wasn’t hard to tell who she was. She was dressed in Tarell Human fashion: skinny jeans and a fitted bottom-down top. I wondered briefly if this was how the Dragons had seen Dani and I each time we arrived for a visit. She had the same dark eyes and dark hair that Ian had and stood almost a full head taller than me. “Lana?” I asked.

“Kat?” She turned to face me. She rushed forward and captured my extended hand between her own. “Do you know where to find my brother?”

I nodded. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to track him down, but I can always find him. What’s happened?” I led her over to a table and motioned for her to take a seat beside me.

She heaved a heavy sigh. “Father has fallen ill and isn’t expected to make it beyond a fortnight. With the passage of time between realms being so uncertain I can only hope that when we return it isn’t too late.”

“Cariss is dying?” I asked, more to take in her words than for anything else.

“Yes,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “I know you have every reason to hate him but…” She burst out into loud sobs.

I pulled her to my shoulder and rubbed her back. “Shhhh, it’s all right. I don’t hate Cariss. I hated Romijeer. Cariss isn’t a monster, and he loves his people. I may not like what he has done to Ian but I respect his years and leadership,” I told her. She just clung tightly to me and continued to cry. Hue stood watch over us, knowing it was all the comfort he could really offer.

“Kat, Father said that Ian’s life is sworn to you. Will you even allow him to return home for the funeral?” she asked when she was finally able to speak again.

“Of course I would let him return home. Ian chose to stay with me because he didn’t believe in his father’s decision and because he loves me, not because I have made him or asked him to.” I stopped for a moment and thought about my next words. “I love Ian and we both need each other. Yes, he’s part of a strange love triangle, but he is a willing participant.”

She looked at me consideringly for a moment. “It’s funny – the way he behaves, and you do too, it’s like you’re Soul Mates. But I know that you are Lord Hudraer’s.”

I patted her shoulder one more time. “Follow me and I will show you to a room. I’ll send out riders tonight to try and find him. If they don’t return by morning, I’ll go myself.”

After getting Lana settled, in I returned to my own chambers and closed the door behind me. Hue sat by a window with a book open, reading peacefully. When I entered he closed it and looked at me. “So,” he said.

“Yes. So?” I said back.

“Since you will most likely be leaving in the morning and your brother will be returning, can we talk?” he asked.

“Of course,” I told him.

“You should meet with Dani after Ian and Lana head home. We should all go support the family. We’re friends,” he said.

I smiled at him. “Yes, that’s what I would do too. We will wait until we receive word and will go when the time is right.” We were both in complete agreement.