Dragon Storm (28 page)

Suddenly she understood. Shifters had similar problems. When there was only one perfect mate for a person, it seemed a miracle to find them. She well knew that many never did, and they lived alone and heartsick for the rest of their lives, knowing their mate suffered the same…somewhere…if they still lived.

“I know,” she said softly, moving to stand in front of Trent. “I never thought I’d find my mate—much less that there’d be two. Meeting your brothers was a miracle to me.”

Two strong arms came around her. Darius claimed her waist while Connor cupped her shoulder.

“You are our miracle, Josie,” Connor whispered near her ear.

“Would that we could be as fortunate,” Collin said in a raw voice. “Your love is incandescent. Trey and I have never been sure whether we will find one mate or two separate women. The odds of finding anyone who could be either of our matches seems astronomical.”

“Seeing you three together gives us hope,” Trey put in. “Whether we find one mate for each of us or one mate to share, seeing the way you three are together…” he trailed off, seeming to get choked up. The idea that such a strong, mountain of a man would get so emotional touched her deeply.

Collin slapped his twin on the back with affection. “What he’s trying to say is thank you, Josie.” The way his voice dropped, husky with emotion made her feel special. She’d given something to these men. Hope was a rare commodity and she understood how much it could mean to someone who had been in despair.

“You’re welcome.” Suddenly the entire experiment took on profound significance. This wasn’t just about kinky sex. This was about sharing a glimpse of what the three of them had found together.

It would be all right now. She began to understand this culture a little better. It would take time for her to learn their ways, but it wasn’t the orgy of decadence she’d feared. There were reasons for everything they did. She just had to be patient while she learned what made this world spin.

Dinner with the entire family plus Shanya and Liliana was organized chaos. All those hunky princes were overwhelming enough on their own. Add in two absolutely stunning, ethereal fair folk beauties, plus the twin women who’d married the eldest of the dragon brothers and Josie was feeling a little outclassed. Oh, the others didn’t try to make her feel that way. They were gracious and kind. Josie sat back in wonder at the company she was keeping since she’d come to this world.

Whether the drastic move here would turn out well for her in the long run, she didn’t know. While it lasted though, this heady company had the capacity to make her head whirl with the magic of her surroundings. It was like every little girl’s dream come true. She was sitting in a fairy-tale castle perched on the side of a mountain, surrounded by immensely magical beings, accepted as one of them, welcome among them. One was more magnificent than the next, and they all seemed to think that she was something special.

Josie was more or less certain that every being in this hall had more magic at their command than she did. As a snowcat, she was used to being the most magical shifter in any group except on her grandfather’s mountain. Here, her power was accepted as normal and outclassed to a significant degree, unless she was much mistaken.

The feeling wasn’t comfortable, but it didn’t intimidate her. No, it was actually kind of nice to not be the one with the most magic in the room. It was nice not to have others looking at her as some kind of demi-deity for a change. They looked at her strangely, but more in the way of strangers wanting to get to know the newcomer in their midst. That she could handle. The other part—the part about being the newest princess of the land—well, that would take a little more getting used to.

With her mates by her side, she figured she could cope with almost anything.

She’d had a momentary lapse into blushing embarrassment when she’d come face-to-face with the older set of twins. Trent’s greeting set off another round of blushes, much to her mates’ amusement. The moment passed and as the night progressed she became more comfortable in their presence.

Liliana and her rings were duly admired when she was introduced. She hadn’t come empty-handed. The Master Jeweler had brought gifts of intricately carved, entwined dragons. Done in gold, they had been made into broaches for Queen Lana and her sister, Riki, to symbolize their unions with Roland and Nico.

“These are not copies of each other,” Riki said with awe. “They are Nico and me…” she held up one of the broaches, “…and Lana and Roland.” She held up the other, a look of wonder on her face. “They actually look like us.”

“I rarely make the same piece twice,” Liliana said modestly. “I wanted my gifts to be special for each of you. I hope you like them.”

“Like them?” Lana picked the image of herself and her husband out of her sister’s hand. “I love this. Thank you for your gift, Mistress Liliana. I have no words to describe how happy this makes me.”

“It is a lovely gift,” Roland added, his voice surprisingly rough as he stood behind Lana, holding her shoulder, looking at the gift over her head. “We thank you.”

They sat for dinner around a huge table. The princes sat in age order, so Josie found herself near the middle of the long table. Shanya was opposite her, and Liliana was seated next to Shanya. This dinner was an opportunity for them to meet as well as for Liliana to become acquainted with the royal family. Josie tried to be unobtrusive but knew she wasn’t the only one listening in as the two fair women met for the first time.

“You are the Master Jeweler,” Shanya said politely. “Your work is lovely.”

“Thank you. I have heard much of you since you arrived in Draconia. They say you came with two gryphons,” Liliana replied as she put her napkin on her lap. She had very dainty manners in addition to looking like she stepped out of the pages of a fairytale.

“The gryphons brought me here,” Shanya answered. “If not for them, I could not have made the journey, but it was necessary.”

Liliana stilled. “Yes, it was.”

“You also have the Sight, then.” It wasn’t a question, but Liliana nodded.

“I saw you here, among the dragons and in snow, among the others. You have a role to play, my dear. It could be a dangerous one. It could also be one that brings great joy to many hopeless people. When the time comes, you must be ready.”

Shanya swallowed hard and nodded. She appeared frightened by the other woman’s words. She also seemed determined. What it was that stirred so many conflicting feelings in the young woman was beyond Josie’s knowledge.

“Did you hear that?” Josie asked her mates.

Connor turned to her. “Hear what?”

She turned to Darius. He also wore a blank look. They hadn’t heard the exchange.

Liliana captured her attention from across the table. “The snowcat is said to have the most acute hearing of any shapeshifter in this world.”

She knew. Liliana knew Josie had heard her words to the other girl. Fighting a blush of embarrassment, Josie smiled weakly at the woman and shrugged.

“Sorry.”

“No apologies are necessary, princess. You are what you are. As we all are. My words were not secret, or I would not have spoken them in company.”

The woman was so calm and collected, Josie had to admire her. Liliana was a cool customer and probably much more than she seemed on the surface. There was wisdom behind those timeless blue eyes.

“How old are you, Liliana?” The words popped out before Josie could censor herself. She realized how rude she must have sounded. Thankfully nobody else at the table seemed to be looking their way as the first course was served. “Forgive me. That was incredibly rude.”

“Not at all.” Liliana smiled serenely, putting Josie at ease. “I am just over eight hundred winters.”

“Then fair folk…your people…are…”

“Immortal?” Liliana laughed and the sound was musical and enchanting. “Not quite, but we come close. I suspect you are familiar with the phenomenon.” The knowing look she sent nearly made Josie gasp. This woman knew about snowcats. She knew the way they aged. Full-blooded snowcats, at least.

Josie nodded and was stopped from saying more by the server.

Dinner proceeded from there and conversation flowed. Josie waited patiently for a chance to talk directly to either of the fair folk seated across from her, but the effort was doomed.

Halfway through the meal, a messenger came running in. He dropped to one knee in front of Roland to deliver his message. It was a boy she had seen in the hall at the Northern Lair a few days before. No doubt he’d come on a dragon’s back to deliver his message.

“My liege. News from the Northern Lair.” The young man panted as he tried to catch his breath. “An army is massing just over the border. They sent a demand for us to return their envoy. They claim we misdirected their magic and stole her. They have beasts with them, sire, like the one we saw with Prince Darius and Prince Connor a few days past. They roar challenge in the night.”

All eyes turned to Josie. She stood, placing her napkin on the table as her mates stood at her sides.

“I’ll go. I suspect it’s me they want to talk to.” She tried not to show the fear that crept into her heart. Those snowcats might try to separate her from her mates. Well, they could try. They would succeed only over her dead body. And she’d take a few of them with her on her way out. That much was certain.

“We’ll leave at once,” Connor said, backing her up. She reached for his hand and squeezed it for reassurance. Darius took her other hand as they left the table.

Nico also stood. “I’m coming with you.”

“I also need to go.” The voice from the middle of the table drew all attention. It was Shanya. “If you please, sire,” she directed her request toward Roland, “I must go.”

“Something you have foreseen?” Roland asked in a deceptively gentle voice.

“Only recently and not clearly.” She shrugged as if embarrassed by her lack of accuracy. “I only know I must meet the snowcats.”

Liliana reached for Shanya’s shaking hand. “She is right, sire. She must be present when your new sister-in-law meets her brethren. That part is clear. The rest will unfold in good time.”

“We will take you, Shanya,” Darius volunteered impulsively. All eyes turned to Roland. He took a moment to consider, then nodded in agreement and stood.

“I’m going too.” Roland’s voice was granite in its surety, and his expression was grim. “If there is to be war on the border yet again, I need to be there.”

Lana clutched his hand, and the two shared a moment of silent communication. Josie wondered what passed between them, but could guess easily enough. She knew how she’d feel if either of her mates went off to war without her.

The big silver dragonet who had lounged near the fireplace behind Roland and Lana’s seats lifted his head. Roland scratched his scales with deep affection.

“Take care of your mother, Tor,” Roland instructed the dragon.

“I will, Papa. If you need us, we can fly north real quick to help like we did last time.”
Everyone at the table heard the baby dragon’s unguarded words. Josie had heard the tale of how the dragonet and Lana had flown in beyond all expectations to save Roland’s life once before during a battle on the northern border.

“Thank you, son,” Roland said, clearly fighting a grin. “But I want you to stay here and keep watch over our people with Lana. They need her, and they need you. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes, Papa.”
The young dragon bowed his head for another loving scratch.

Josie was touched by the obvious love between the king and his adopted dragon child. It was clear Tor could not be more loved if he were a child of their bodies. Tor was an Ice Dragon and would always remain in dragon form. He was not a shifter. Josie had been fascinated to learn that the children of knights and their dragons were raised together as if part of one big, extended family. As a result, there were many Lair-born dragons who considered particular sets of humans as members of their family and several dragons who had a hand in raising the children of their human partners as well.

Once the decision was made, they wasted little time heading for the ledge from which they would take flight. Josie wore the lovely formal gown her mates had surprised her with right before dinner. It was warm enough for the heights at which they’d be flying and, if she wanted to make an impression on the waiting snowcats, perhaps this lovely and no-doubt expensive dress would help.

Shanya trailed behind Josie and her mates, a worried look on her lovely face. The king and his spymaster were nowhere to be seen at the moment. Josie understood where they’d gone when she reached the ledge. The older brothers had stopped off to don armor and each carried a set for one of her mates.

Not caring who might be looking, her mates stripped right there on the landing ledge and put on the layers their older brothers had brought for them. Men, it seemed, had no shame in either world. Josie stood with Shanya while the twins prepared themselves.

“Don’t worry,” she told the blonde girl who was chewing her lower lip in anxiety, “my mates won’t drop you.”

That did the trick. Shanya started, and her gaze rose to meet Josie’s. She smiled, hoping to put the young woman at ease.

“I’m not worried about that, princess. I’m uncertain about my future, which is a unique experience for me.”

“I never thought about it before. I guess it must be hard to always know what’s coming down the road.”

“I don’t see everything,” she admitted with a helpless gesture. “But usually I see some sort of culmination to my actions. This time, there is a nexus of sorts. A point beyond which I cannot see because the possibilities are too many and too confusing. I don’t know how this will turn out and it worries me.”

“We have an expression in my world. Welcome to the human race.”

“I’m not human.” The girl seemed perplexed though she was thinking about Josie’s words.

“Well, neither am I—at least not completely—but the sentiment means that none of us knows how everything will turn out. To err is human. That’s another pearl of wisdom from my world. We learn from our mistakes and most of us can’t see the future. The fact that you usually know what fate has in store has left you unprepared for feelings the rest of us deal with all the time because we
don’t
know. We usually don’t see the consequences of our actions until they are upon us. It means welcome to the feelings all of us without foresight have every day.”