Dragonfae & The Soul Catcher (31 page)

“I’m celebrating your victory.” Lucinda gave Lumos a pout. “Come now, Lumos, you can’t possibly intend to breed with that Nomag. Now you’ve had your fun with the little witch, come back to me. Make a blood-born your mate.” She pressed harder against Lumos. “Let Thalia leave, she doesn’t belong here.”

Taking the supreme effort not to break Lucinda’s arms, Lumos prised the Faerie’s fingers from his neck, and set her away from him.

He narrowed his gaze. “What have you done?”

“Done? Whatever do you mean?”

“You planned this…this embrace to upset Thalia, didn’t you?” Lumos ground his teeth. “Do you think I’d ever want you again? I belong to Thalia, and even if she died, I’d rather follow her through the veil by my own hand, than take you as my mate. You’re a vicious, self-centred bitch, and I know you betrayed me to the Magus. I suggest
you
leave this realm, never to return.” He turned away and pushed through the crowd.

Thalia swiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks. What Lucinda had said was true, after all. Instead of flying straight to her side, Lumos had dropped into the crowd to greet Lucinda. She had seen Lumos kiss the Faerie. The pain in her heart was too much to bear. She bent to pick up Brew.

“We have to leave this place, and if anyone tries to stop us, I’ll kill them.” Throwing open the door, she brushed past the guard. “I’m going down to Lumos.”

“My queen.” The guard inclined his head.

My queen? The man has lost his wits.
Thalia ran along the corridor, down the steps, and through the hall to the courtyard. The palace appeared empty. All had gathered in the city square to welcome Lumos. She slipped through the stable doors and ran between the stalls, searching for Albert. She started at the sight of Axim leading a pure white stallion from a stall.

“Well, hello, Thalia.” Axim gave Thalia a wide grin. “Are you trying to get away from the noise, too?”

Thalia caught sight of Albert and edged her way towards his stall. “Yes, I’m not used to all this madness. I’m going for a ride to get away for a while.”

“Then allow me to saddle him for you.” Axim waved a hand and Albert stood ready to depart. “Do you plan to ride in that gown?”

With a sigh, Thalia glanced down at the beautiful gossamer gown. “There was no time to change.”

“May I?” Axim grinned. “Oh yes…my dragon skin suits you very well.” He turned and lifted Thalia onto Albert’s back. “May I suggest a ride to Draconia? Pyro sent a message. He’s arrived with the men you wish to punish. I’ll send word to Lumos to collect you there.”

The white dragon-skin tunic and pants clung to Thalia’s body, warm and soft against her flesh.
I should be wearing the Nightdragon’s skin.
A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed hard and tried to focus on what Axim was saying. She met Axim’s amused gaze. Goddess, he had the same expressive eyes as Lumos, the same black, silken hair. Tears threatened and she blinked them away.

“I don’t wish to see Lumos.”

“Well, then, perhaps we should forgo the Gate and go directly to my palace.” Axim drew a circle of light. “This will take us directly to my stables.”

Thalia squeezed her knees and urged Albert through the circle. They stepped into a bright stable. Whitewashed walls presented a stark contrast to the dim interior of the one at Drakka. Biting back the pain of losing Lumos, she turned to Axim.

“Lumos has told me a little about you. I know you are king of Draconia. Do you have a mate?”

“No, the gods have not blessed me yet.” Axim gave his horse to a groom and turned to lift Thalia from Albert. “Does that cat go everywhere with you?”

Forcing a smile, Thalia dropped Brew to the ground. “Aye, he does, but, for now, he will be happy to stay in the stable with Albert.”

With a heavy heart, Thalia followed Axim from the stables, and out into the late afternoon sunlight. Before her in magnificent glory stood a palace made entirely of white crystal. Transfixed by the beauty of the building, she gaped in wonder.

“It is impressive, don’t you think?” Axim touched Thalia’s arm. “It has the most beautiful gardens and I have a waterfall in the central courtyard.” He turned and looked down at Thalia. “You’ve been crying. Tell me what Lumos has done to make you so sad.”

Meeting Axim’s gaze, Thalia cleared her throat. How could she tell this Dragonfae that Lumos had broken her heart, lied to her, used her?—the Fae was his brother.

She forced a smile. “Oh…it’s nothing. I made a mistake, that’s all.”

“A mistake?” Axim led her up a flight of stairs. “What kind of mistake?”

Thalia moved up the steps and out into a wide passageway. She caught her breath at the beauty. Flowers of every type and colour spilled from window boxes surrounding a circular room. A wide balcony overlooked the ocean, blue and sparkling against a clear sky. Axim gave her a warm smile and indicated for her to sit on a large sofa covered in dragon skin. The Fae moved towards a table and paused, watching her intently before pouring two goblets of wine from a crystal decanter. Thalia decided to tell him the truth.

“Lumos has forsaken me for Lucinda.”

“Lucinda?” Axim handed Thalia a goblet and sat down beside her. “I doubt he can change the goddess’s mind. Indeed, why would he want to? He loves you, Thalia.
You
are his chosen mate.”

Anger grew inside her like a black monster. Thalia’s hair tingled with magyck. “Then perhaps Cymbeline needs to inform Lumos of that fact. He holds no love for me. Not five minutes ago, I saw him kiss Lucinda, and he knew I watched from the balcony at his insistence. Before that happened, the stupid Faerie came to me and told me it was Lumos’ wish I leave Drakka. Lucinda told me he’d go straight to her after the challenge—and he did.” She took a long drink of wine. “Lucinda said Lumos used me and my magyck to get back to Drakka.” With a snort, she pushed to her feet. “Males are all the same—they use, and abuse.”

“By the gods, you’re beautiful when you are angry.” Axim raised his glass to Thalia. “I must say you have the most delightful wings.”

“Wings?” Thalia stared over her shoulder. “I have wings?”

“Look for yourself.” Axim waved a hand and a tall mirror appeared. “Do you doubt you belong to Lumos now?”

Thalia gawked at the mirror with surprise. “You must have very powerful magyck to produce a mirror from thin air.”

“As king, the goddess enhances our powers. Lumos will be the same now.” Axim waved a hand and a plate of fruit and cheese appeared on the table. “We’re completely self-sufficient. Now, do gaze upon your wings. Then I insist you eat something. I can tell you’re famished.”

Gold surrounded Thalia from the tips to the feathery tails. She took in every detail, every vein. Her wings were gold replicas of Lumos’ right down to the crescent moon, although the black moon on hers depicted the colour of the Nightdragon. With a thought, she folded them and watched them vanish into her back, only to bring them out again. Lumos had told the truth—using wings had become as easy as blinking. She folded them again and sat beside Axim on the sofa.

“I’m sure Lumos has a good explanation for kissing Lucinda.” Axim frowned. “To be perfectly honest, once a Dragonfae is bonded, kissing another female would be like kissing a dead fish—most unpleasant. Lumos has bonded with you or he wouldn’t have warned me off.” He chuckled. “We’re very close and yet he‘d kill me in an instant for daring to speak to you. My guess is this little charade is Lucinda’s doing.” He sipped his drink. “I’d imagine Lumos will be here shortly, beating his chest and threatening to spill my blood all across Draconia.”

* * * *

Lumos moved beside his father and they walked through the crowd to the palace steps. “You were correct. The Magus had a hand in plotting my downfall.”

“Aye, but he only stepped into Drakka for a few minutes. As soon as he noticed my guards, he vanished back through the Gate. A simple spell will keep him from entering Drakka for a while.” Luka smiled. “Have no fear—I’ll remain here while you attend to your mate. I must confess, your mother is anxious to make our home at Summer Palace. However, she insists working with Thalia is the only way to solve the problem of the Magus’ potion. I would have sent her to Thalia today, but, with the Magus in Drakka, I could not risk letting her out of my sight. We’ve both agreed to stay our departure until an antidote for the Magus’ potion is discovered.”

“That could take years.” Lumos shook his head. “The minds of the dragons I fought had turned to the dark side. I fear for those that followed the Magus to Fullmount to seek more of the bastard’s potion.”

“They are safe for the time being.” Lukas placed a hand on Lumos’ shoulder. “While the Magus had his attention on you and Thalia, Axim and his men recovered all but one of the poisoned Dragonfae males from Fullmount. They were all compelled by the potion and so will remain in a deep sleep until we can solve this problem.” He slapped Lumos on the back. “All is well. Go to your mate.”

Lumos took the stairs to his chamber. On the air, he caught Thalia’s scent. His mate had passed this way not long ago. A strange fear curled in his belly. He reached out again for his sweet butterfly but again a strong barrier met his mind. A wave of panic echoed through him from the Nightdragon. A thundering pulse rang in his ears. Instinct told him Thalia had fled the palace. Gods, his sweet mate had witnessed Lucinda’s kiss. He feared the trust he had spent so long cultivating in Thalia had shattered to dust. Chest heaving, he stopped before the open door to his chambers, and addressed the guard.

“Has the queen left my chambers?”

“Aye, my king, the queen informed me, she was going to see you. She took the cat with her.”

Damn.
Lumos ran back through the palace. People had started to mill into the great hall for the week-long celebrations. With a gasp of despair, he opened his wings, and flew down the stairs. “
Dragon, where is our mate?”

“I cannot mindspeak with her. She refuses to lower her barrier.”

Lumos flew out into the courtyard and headed towards the stables. Could she leave him? Where would she go?
Gods, what am I to do?
Knowing Thalia would not leave without Albert, Lumos folded his wings and marched into the stables. Fear of losing Thalia tore at his heart. He glanced along the row of horses, seeking Albert’s intelligent head.

“Dragon, contact Brew. He is with her. We must hope the cat can give us some information.”

Without warning, the dragon’s anger hit him like a sledgehammer. His legs grew weak. He reached the stable door and grasped the wall for purchase. The Nightdragon shimmered on the surface, trying to break through.

“Calm yourself. What did the cat say?”

“Our mate is with Axim—she wears his dragon skin.”

Clutching at his chest, Lumos fought for breath. No blow could hurt more than this betrayal. He drew a circle of light to Draconia. With a roar of fury, he stepped directly into Axim’s solar.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Thalia placed the goblet of wine on the table. She clenched her hands in her lap to stop them shaking. The Dragonfae male beside her had an air of danger about him. A bad boy, without doubt. How could she have been so reckless as to leave with him? The air on the other side of the room shimmered and tendrils of crackling magyck announced the arrival of Lumos. His green gaze drifted over her for a few intense seconds, then fixed on Axim. Blue magyck crackled off Lumos, sending sparks flying from his massive body. His presence filled the room with an unspoken challenge. He radiated male dominance, yet his unique scent called to Thalia. Her heart swelled and her pussy wept at the sight of him.
You are magnificent.

She swallowed hard. Lady’s blood, Lumos’ eyes had turned black with rage. His body shook. Her mate had directed his entire focus on Axim. Thalia opened her mouth to say something but the anger on Lumos’ face stopped the words falling from her lips. Beside her, Axim leapt to his feet.

“Hold, Lumos.” Axim moved away from the sofa, his hands held up as if quieting a raging stallion. “This is not what it seems.”

“You dare to take my queen and insult me by dressing her in your dragon skin? What game is this, Axim?” Lumos moved forward menacingly. “If you intend to fight me for her, trust me, you will lose everything.”

“Thalia came here by her own free will, wounded by your attention to Lucinda.” Axim moved away from Thalia. “What true mate kisses another in front of the entire population of Drakka? You’ve caused Thalia distress, and I merely offered sanctuary so she may gather herself. I’ve no designs on your mate. My dragon skin was given for the purpose of travelling—nothing more.” Axim balled his hands into fists, and rested them on his waist. “It is you who should offer an explanation—do you have a reason for treating your mate in such an abominable fashion?”

Thalia trembled. Lumos’ nose poured smoke. Her mate’s lips drew back to display sharp fangs. He gave a long, deep growl, and, with eyes flashing dangerously, moved towards his brother.

“I don’t have to explain anything to you, Axim.” Lumos ground his teeth. “You kidnapped my mate and will pay the consequences.”

“Did the challenge addle your brains, Lumos, or is this show of bravado for Thalia’s benefit? Might I remind you, Brother, you are in
my
realm.” Axim smiled thinly. “Do you honestly believe I will not fight to protect what is mine by divine right?” He met Lumos’ gaze. “I am King of Draconia.”

“I know what you are and exactly how you regard females. My mate will never be another notch in your belt, Axim.” Lumos waved his hand towards Thalia. “I find it hard to believe Thalia would abandon me and block our bond for a simple misguided kiss. This sounds like you had a hand in this travesty. What lies did you tell to persuade her to come here with you?”

Thalia drew a breath. “Axim is speaking the truth. I left Drakka because you kissed Lucinda—and for no other reason.” She met Lumos’ hard gaze. “You said you loved me and then I see you kissing her in front of everyone as if she is your queen.”