Dragon Storm (22 page)

It also was a stark reminder that this was not her world.

“‘Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.’”

“What was that, my love?”
Darius asked in her mind.

“Nothing. Just thinking aloud.”

At various heights along the mountain palace, Josie saw landing platforms similar to what she’d seen at the Northern Lair. Roland led the way as other dragons joined their small formation like an honor guard on either flank.

By the time they reached the castle, they had a real crowd of dragons. Now this was some kind of welcome home. She looked down and realized people were spilling out of the houses and businesses they flew over to wave and smile.

As they whizzed past, she noticed more than one puzzled smile sent her way until she realized she was the only one riding on a black dragon. Since the black dragons were known as royal blacks, she guessed that was a rare-enough occurrence to merit a second look.

Roland took them in an almost acrobatic arc upward that left her dizzy. It also landed them atop one of the lower landing platforms. One by one, the black dragons sought purchase on the thick rock slab. The smallest of the blacks was female, and Riki had a rough go of it when she tried to emulate her husband’s smooth landing. Still, she made it in one piece.

Josie was glad of her mates’ skill at setting down smoothly. She hopped down from Darius’s back and followed the parade of dragons into a huge stone archway. One by one, the dragons shifted to human form. Connor came behind her and lifted her off her feet for a quick, hard kiss before passing her to his twin.

Josie’s head was whirling when Darius let her go, finally. They had to scamper to catch up with the rest of the small group. Josie tried to get a good look at the elaborately carved rock in the hallways, but they had to hurry. When they entered through a huge archway, Josie stopped short. Riki stood waiting for her with an identical twin and behind them loomed the largest, shiniest dragon she’d ever seen in her life.

“Whoa.” Darius and Connor stopped beside her, one on either side. “Is that Tor? Man, you told me what he looked like but… Wow.”

The gleaming silver head perked up as she spoke his name, and his neck extended to hover just a few feet away.

“I’m Tor. Who are you?”
The childlike voice boomed through her mind as the Ice Dragon’s tongue peeped out as if to lick the air.
“Your magic tastes funny. It tickles.”

“This is Josie, scamp,” Darius said, reaching up to stroke Tor’s shiny scales.

“She’s our mate,” Connor added.

“Your mate?”
Tor blinked and looked at her even more closely.
“What is she? Her magic is furry.”

The twins laughed outright, as did Josie. “That’s because I am furry. Well, half of me is. I’m a snowcat.”

Diamond eyes blinked widely.
“A snowcat? Truly?”
This was said in hushed tones.

“What do you know of snowcats, sweetheart?” The twin Josie hadn’t yet been introduced to stepped forward. This was Lana then. Queen of Draconia.

“When I was in the shell, back before you started taking care of me, Lana, Mama told me about snowcats. She said they were hiding.”

“What’s this, son?” Roland came over, concern clear on his face.

The precocious young dragon was too focused on Josie to answer the king. He moved closer, his snout only inches from her face.

“Will you show me the snowcat? Please?”
He sounded just like a little kid, and Josie realized that children were probably similar regardless of their species.
“Seeing a snowcat is supposed to be good luck.”

Josie looked to her mates. Connor seemed wary. It was Darius who took her hand and spoke.

“If you don’t mind shifting for him, knowing our nephew, he won’t rest until he’s chased your fluffy white tail around the audience hall once or twice.”

Josie shrugged and called the cat. In a mist of white she became her alter ego. The silver dragon followed her change in height with rapt attention.

“You’re pretty. And furry!”
Tor exclaimed, delight clear in his tone as he looked at her. He reached out with one big talon, and she lifted her paw to show him her smaller set of claws as smoke issued from his mouth in a dragonish chuckle of delight. He was so entertained, she decided to show him a little more.

Josie dashed around the room, leaping up onto the small stone ledge that lined the perimeter of the ornate chamber. It was a good ten feet up in the air and required all her balance, which gave her cat a good workout. She began to show off, using her native agility and speed to practically climb the stone walls with her big paws. There were carved outcroppings that worked as balance points for her, given the speed of her ascent.

When she was as high as she could safely go, she jumped out and down, landing on all fours right in front of the delighted Ice Dragon. She twitched her tail and sat in front of him.

“Did you see that?”
Tor looked to Lana first, then to Roland, then to the rest of the group. Josie had put on her little demonstration for the dragonet. It didn’t hurt for the others to realize that while they might be fire-breathing dragons, she also had her talents.
“Mama described snowcats to me when I wasn’t even hatched. She said they were acrobats, and she was right. She said she’d take me to see them after I hatched, but then Salomar’s men came and then Lana took care of me after Mama left.”

Josie’s heart broke a little for the poor, orphaned dragonet.

“That was the witch’s doing, sweetheart,” Lana spoke soothingly at the baby dragon’s side, stroking her hand over his long neck. “Your mama was tricked into leaving. Otherwise, nothing could have made her leave you. We talked about this.”

“I know, Lana.”
There was sadness in his tone that touched Josie deeply. She shifted back to her human form and bowed to the dragonet, drawing his attention.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tor. Your Uncle Darius and Uncle Connor told me a lot about you. You’re just as smart and handsome as they said you were. I like the way you sparkle.”

The young dragon preened as she’d hoped he would, his sad thoughts banished for the moment by her praise.

“Thank you, Josie. And thank you for showing me the snowcat. She’s pretty and so are you.”

“Thanks. You’ve heard of snowcats, huh? That’s funny because Darius and Connor said they’d never seen my kind before.”

Tor’s face scrunched up as if he was thinking hard.
“Well, I haven’t seen any here in Draconia and I never saw one when we lived in the mountains Salomar controlled, but Mama said there were lots of them farther north, in the coldest high places. Even higher up in the mountains than where Salomar lived.”

“That makes sense,” she told him, knowing the others would hear her as well. “My family lives in the tallest mountain range on my world. The snowcat’s big paws are designed for treading lightly over the deepest layers of snow and ice.”

“If there are snowcats here,” Connor said in a speculative tone, “then I think we have our answer as to what the Mother of All was thinking when She brought you to us, Josie.”

“Part of the answer, to be sure.” A new voice intruded from the doorway.

Josie turned to see a pale blonde…vision, walking toward them. The girl had an ageless beauty and the most harmonious voice she’d ever heard.

“Who is that?” she whispered to her mates.

“Shanya, as usual, you speak in riddles.” Darius gave Josie her answer even as he greeted the beauty with a teasing grin. “Why don’t you come straight out with it? Just this once.”

“It is good to see you returned safely, Prince Darius, Prince Connor.” She nodded to each of them in turn. “And it is especially good to see you here, in our world, daughter of Marpa. Your people are gathering even now.”

“My people?” Josie was stymied by the girl’s words.

“The snowcats. They have had a hard road since the great schism, when half of their tribe crossed through the storm from the place from whence you came. They have been reading the signs and listening to their own seers. Even now, I believe they travel in stealth to the northern border. Soon, a messenger will come seeking you, descendent of Marpa. You will bring hope to your people and in time, perhaps, strong allies in our fight against evil.”

“Whoa,” Josie whispered. She couldn’t help it. This was all too much.

Connor took her hand and squeezed, drawing her attention. He spoke to Shanya but his words rang through the chamber, meant for all.

“Our mate will choose her own path, in the fullness of time.”

After a tense moment, Shanya grinned and stepped forward, her hand outstretched to Josie. “Of course.” They shook hands and Josie felt the real welcome in Shanya’s touch. The girl fizzed with magical energy that almost tickled. This then, was one of the fair folk of this world. To Josie, she looked like an elf out of a fantasy movie. “It’s good to meet you. I’m Shanya.”

“Josie.” She returned the girl’s smile. They moved apart, and Shanya turned to Roland, bowing deeply.

“Please forgive the intrusion, my liege. I thought it best to prepare you all for what I have seen coming.”

“When did you foresee this?” Roland asked.

“It only just came clear last night, sire. The first visions of the white spotted cat started weeks ago, but I didn’t really understand what I was seeing. Then the cats multiplied. All male. A veritable army of them. They are on the move.”

“An army of creatures like Josie, heading for our border?” Nico strode forward, clearly concerned.

“I believe so.” Shanya’s forehead wrinkled with tension. “Last night I had the clearest vision yet. In a dream I saw them traveling on foot over snowy mountains. Many mountains. A great distance, to reach your border. I believe they come to see the descendant of Marpa. Her coming was foretold in their most ancient teachings and the portents were read by their seers and their shaman. It is he, I believe, who called the initial storm that sent your brothers to Josie’s world.”

“Then they have a lot of explaining to do.” Roland looked grim.

“Sire, they could be strong allies in defense of the Citadel. Their natural domain is ice and snow,” Shanya reminded him in a gentle voice that held a core of iron.

Roland sighed. “Give me some time to get used to this, Seer. I thank you for the warning. I will think hard on all you have told us.”

Shanya turned to Nico, appeal in her expression. “The Northern Lair should be warned. The snowcats likely do not realize Josie is mated to your brothers. There could be trouble before all parties understand what has happened. The shaman opened the rift expecting their kind to come through. I don’t think they intended to send two dragons on such a journey, much less that the dragons in question would claim the snowcats’ prize.”

“I’ll send a messenger at once. Thank you, Shanya.” Nico turned and left the hall in a hurry.

Chapter Eleven

After the long journey, Josie was looking forward to a little down time. She was also looking forward to seeing where and how her new mates lived. This was their home, after all. They’d been born and raised in this amazing castle. Never in a million years would she have ever believed she’d go from rustic cabin in the woods to monumental castle on the side of a mountain in just a few short days.

She was here now, though. She had to start learning her new surroundings.

The twins brought her to what they called the family wing of the massive castle. Everything was ornate and lovely. Carvings in the living rock depicted everything from dragons and knights in battle scenes to flowers and vines in innocent border designs and swirls.

“This one’s ours,” Connor said, stopping before a door that had two dragons carved on it. Most of the others in the family wing had just one dragon on each door.

“We tried separate suites once, but we’re twins. We’re used to being together. It got kind of…lonely,” Darius admitted with a sheepish grin as he turned the knob and opened the door. “We asked them to connect the two suites into one double-sized suite for us both. We hope you’ll like it.” He led the way inside, and Josie followed with Connor.

“If you don’t like anything, we’ll be happy to renovate, remodel, even move elsewhere, if you like,” Connor was quick to add.

Josie stepped inside and was immediately enchanted by the vast chamber that served as a sort of living room. There was a collection of richly upholstered chairs, including two long couches, off to one side near a fireplace. Gorgeous tapestries hung on the walls depicting various scenes, probably from Draconia’s history. One wall was completely covered with shelving containing hundreds of books. Everything had a decidedly masculine air, which she had expected. She’d also expected the luxury—they were princes after all—but she hadn’t expected the level of comfort. It all looked so inviting. Luxurious, certainly, but homey and warm at the same time.

“It’s beautiful. I wouldn’t change a thing. Except maybe…” She turned to them with a teasing expression.

“Anything.” Darius seemed to understand her mood better than his twin. Connor just looked anxious. “You may have anything your heart desires.”

“Well, I think you could use a vase of flowers on the end table. That’s all.” She grinned and skipped away before Darius could catch her. The relief on Connor’s face was almost comical.

“We can leave this room as it is then.” Darius walked purposefully toward the doors arranged along one wall. “We have our own small kitchen, bathing chamber and bedrooms. We’ll probably want to remodel those into one big bedchamber for all of us.” Darius’s grin was devilish as he waggled his eyebrows at her.

“We also each have a den. A room just to ourselves. You should probably have one too. We can look into that tomorrow. And eventually…” Connor’s expression grew wistful as she watched him search for words. “Eventually, we may need a nursery.”

The thought stunned her. She hadn’t thought much beyond mating, but children were the natural result. She stopped short, her mind racing. She was near enough to one of the couches to drop onto its soft cushions.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Darius came over and sat beside her, one arm going around her shoulders as he shot his brother a disgusted look.