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  Neeren chuckled. “You made the right decision.”

  “Shut up, Neeren,” she yelled.

  Collum advanced. “Alex, you cannot trust these men. I won’t let you go with them.”

  Domhall interrupted, saying, “If you don’t allow it, I will rain fire down on your home. There is no choice left here.”

  “Try it asshole. This house was built with fire.”

  Alex stared at Collum while admonishing her grandfather. “No one is raining down fire on anyone. I won’t accept Collum being harmed.” She turned to Domhall. “Are you listening, Grandfather?”

  When he nodded she turned back to Collum. Prayed he would understand. “Collum, I'm sorry but I'm going. I need to do this. I believe that he is worth trusting.”

  She turned to Neeren and grabbed his hand. “Take me home.”

  Before any man could make a move, Neeren grinned, and they disappeared.

  Chapter 20

  Collum lunged for the space where Alex stood, grabbing only air. He whirled on Domhall. Landed a solid left hook to the man’s jaw. “You son of a bitch. Do you even know what you've done?”

  The punch rocked Domhall off his feet for a moment. “Of course, I know what I've done. I take care of my own,” he replied while rubbing his jaw.

  “Like you took care of Gray?”

  Domhall leaned down. Plucked a tattered daisy out of the filth. “Exactly like that. We’re no longer a concern of yours. I release you from the request Kaylen made of you.”

  “Tell me where he took her.”

  “Not a chance. And he didn't take her. She left you of her own free will. Did you honestly think you'd be able to keep her? She’s a Taleisin.”

  “I’m a fucking king. I have every right. No matter what game you’re playing, we’ve claimed each other. Even you can’t stop that.”

  “You lost. She’s gone. Don't forget that she was raised as a human. To her, this claiming means nothing. If it had, she would’ve never left you.” He crushed the daisy petals in his hand. “Look around you, Coll. I'm leaving you to your lonely and old existence. I hope your rocks can keep you warm at night, for Alexedria never will.”

  Domhall swept his hand out. Power lifted Collum off his feet. He flew back against the concrete wall of the garden. The concrete crumbled beneath the force. Landed in a pile on top of him.

  “That's for touching my granddaughter,” Domhall said. He straightened his jacket. “I’ll be off now. No need to worry about me. I've already called for a car to take me back to the airport. Places to go you know.”

  Collum, pushed the rubble of his back. Watched Domhall leave. Insane as he was, Domhall was also right. She’d left him. She’d chosen to go with this Neeren. Family? If that were true, it meant Gray had sinned far more than any had guessed. He wondered if Kaylen had known.

  Chapter 21

  Alex clung to Neeren's hand and refused to look back. She knew it was a small act of betrayal on her part to leave Collum the way she did. But, they hadn't talked about a future and they had no past. She only knew that this was the time to find out more about who she was. Collum had been right that morning. It wasn't time to create more confusion in her life, or to complicate it with a relationship.

  “We are here.”

  Alex looked around. “How did you do that?”

  “We came through a portal.”

  “I need to sit down. And maybe rum. You have any rum? I'm beginning to think I'm gonna need a lot to drink today.”

  Neeren grinned. “Good idea. It is a celebration. You are returned to us. I will pour and we will talk. Then I will introduce you to the others.”

  Alex regarded the room. A glass wall opened out to the ocean. The space was bright and light. Palm trees dotted the distant cliffs. “Are we hanging over the ocean here?”

  “Stunning, isn't it.” Neeren strolled to the corner bar and poured them two glasses of rum. “Have you tried this before? Zaya Rum? It's a bit sweet, but still a rich, textured rum for sipping.”

  She sat on the edge of a graphite colored leather couch in front of the window. “Don't do that yet. I don't want to have a conversation about your taste in alcohol. Tell me what you and Domhall were talking about. You called him grandfather. For some reason, I believe you’re telling the truth. Who are you?”

  Neeren adjusted his long frame to sit beside her. His movements were lithe, graceful, unhurried. Alex wondered if he always moved like that. Quiet, self-assured, self-aware. He turned his yellow eyes to her and raised an eyebrow. He said nothing, just let her look at him until she understood.

  “You’re my brother, aren't you?”

  Light lit his features. “I am, though, much older. I knew about you when you were born. We all did, but they took you. We spent years looking for you. Even with all our power and persuasion, we couldn't find you. I am happy to finally meet you, sister.” He reached up and stroked her cheek affectionately. “You cannot imagine what it was like. Knowing you had been ripped away from us.”

  Alex gulped the Zaya. “You're right, I can't imagine. I thought everyone assumed when my mother died, I died with her.”

  “We knew. We felt you. We couldn’t find you.”

  She sunk into the couch. “Oh God— This whole time? Can you tell me why I’m believed to be such a threat?”

  “I cannot speak for the Elementals, sister. I can only speak for myself and for what Domhall has told me. I won't tell you lies. I won't hold anything back. Are you ready for a long afternoon?”

  The sun rested high in the sky. Water reflected light onto her skin. The warmth soothed her and she focused on Neeren. Every part of her existence had been encased in tales, fabricated by people wanting to protect her, hide her, hurt her.

  “I want to know who I am. Tell me.”

  “I knew you were strong.” He settled beside her on the couch. “Domhall found me ten years ago. You are correct when you say he is not to be crossed. He is the most powerful being I have ever encountered. I doubt any of the Elementals truly understands this. No creature outside of my people has been able to find this place before. Yet, Domhall simply walked in the front door one day and introduced himself to me. Much like you and I sit today, we poured a drink and chatted about all that had come before.”

  “Ten years ago. And none of you reached out to me? Do you know what the past ten years have been for me?”

  He reached for her hand. Smiled gently. “Yes, sister, I do. You needed to grow up. You needed to experience life and death, love and loss. How could you comprehend this world before now? You needed lovers, you needed to defeat bullies, you needed to struggle and survive. If we had brought you here earlier, you would be a very different person, one likely to make mistakes. Do you see?”

  Alex thought about the night her parents died. “I don't yet, but I'm listening.”

  He chuckled. “You are hot blooded. You chose a dragon for a lover. What did I expect?”

  “Why don't you start by telling me what we are?”

  “That is complicated. We are many things. We are Immortal. We are Elemental. We are Parthen. The tattoo you carry on your skin and the fire that is such a part of you is something I cannot claim to have. I was gifted with power over water and I control it. However, I must live by it. It feeds me. I suspect this is why you are drawn to your dragon—the fire and all.” His eyes sparkled as he looked at her.

  “Are you teasing me? How can you tease me right now?”

  “Why not? You are immortal. You are power. You are about to get everything you desire. It is a good day, sister. Embrace it.”

  It was impossible to miss his complete yet humble satisfaction with himself and his life. “You are so . . . different. Why are you so at ease about all of this?”

  “Now comes the part about the other half of w
ho we are. Our father was the King of the Parthen. Like all good fairy tales, when he met our mother they fell passionately and violently in love. After she stopped trying to kill him, they married. It had to be kept secret of course. The Elementals would never allow the union of the two. But it was true love. For over a hundred years, they lived and loved and led our people. I was raised to be a King. My life was easy, sister. Then came the day we found out Mother was pregnant again. Our people came from across the globe to celebrate the news. The pregnancy was easy. Mother was strong—a warrior. I was a proud son—soon to be a brother.”

  “How old were you?”

  “I had been alive ninety-seven years when you were born, Alex. Mother’s pregnancy was one of the greatest and scariest times of my life. We all knew what it meant. I had been hidden from the Elementals. You would have to be too.”

  “But why do they care so much about this. What are the Parthen? I’m sure there have been others who have loved other races?”

  He tossed back his rum before saying, “We are Dreamwalkers and seen as a threat. Though the Elementals have powers far vaster than we do, they are afraid of what we can do to their minds. To have a child who holds the power of the elements, who can come to you in your dreams? Imagine what they could do? Imagine what we can do? Imagine being able to use your fire to kill your enemy while he slept. This is what they are afraid of. This, is why you were hidden.”

  “And we are the only two in the world who can do this?”

  “We are the only two in the world who are half Elemental and half Parthen. It is our Elemental side that allows us to enter their dreams. The Elementals carry a natural ability to mind block. While we can freely walk through others’ dreams, none before us have been able to enter an Elemental’s mind. Another Parthen who might try it would be sensed trying to enter the subconscious. Our mixed blood allows us to walk through those barriers.”

  “So, they’re right. They had no idea what I even was and still, they were right. We are dangerous.”

  “They could be right. They are not. We are not killers. Remember this, sister. You are a warrior yes, but there are rules. These were taught to me as a child. We do not kill the defenseless, even if they have wronged us. A death, a kill, is only honorable when they can fight back.”

  Neeren grinned again and uncurled his frame to stand. “Would you like more rum?”

  Alex handed him her cup. Watched as the sun slowly descended. The ocean below was quiet, the surface as clear as glass. “That’s strange. I thought the ocean would be rougher.”

  Neeren handed her a glass, refilled. “It follows my emotions and I am at peace right now. Today my sister came home. It is a peaceful day.”

  “Why didn’t our mother tell her family about you, about any of this?”

  “Perhaps it was an attempt to protect me. Perhaps she assumed there would be plenty of time after you were born. Our father ignored all caution and rushed to her when he found out she’d been given to that monster.”

  “And he was murdered.”

  Waves crashed below them for a moment, the only indication of Neeren's inner turmoil.

  “You must hate them all,” she said. “I hate them right now. And Domhall was a part of this. You know that right, that he’s an elder?”

  Neeren grinned mischievously. “Indeed, I know this. But today isn't a day for hate, little sister. Our parents knew the risks. I'm only sad you didn't get a chance to know them.”

  The rum eased the tears at the edge of her throat. Two lives lost because of hatred, because of her.

  Neeren sighed. “Please don't blame yourself. I felt the same for a very long time. That my life had somehow led to this outcome, but they made their choices. They would have changed nothing even if they’d known what would happen.”

  “I'm jealous of you, you know. You had all those years with our parents. I had nothing.”

  Neeren walked to the toffee colored lounger on the other side of the room. He retrieved a thick cream cashmere throw, shook his head again, and returned to lay the blanket over her.

  “And I, little sister, am jealous of you. You grew up knowing nothing of war and hate. I was trained from birth to become a shadow. Was reminded daily that it was my duty to protect my people by staying in the dark. After father died and I became King, I climbed out of those shadows. Refuse to have them bind me any further. I choose now to protect my home and my people by my resolve and my strength. I am not a dark being and I refuse to live like one. As should you. That's why I brought you here. Enough hiding.”

  “But the Elementals will come. Eventually they’ll find out about us. I was being tracked before. It was only Collum and Domhall that kept them at bay.”

  “So, let them come. We are power. The Parthen are a strong and vast race of shifters. Our grandfather will come too. He will let no-one harm you. And let us not forget about your dragon.”

  As the sun set, Alex burrowed beneath the blanket. It was warm here, wherever here was. “He isn't my dragon.” She ignored the voice inside telling her, she knew he already was.

  “He has protected you since before your birth, Alex. All immortals bow to Collum Thronus. He would have taken me in that fight if Domhall hadn't stepped in. The dragons don't appoint Kings lightly. Plus, he’s been Guardian to all the immortals longer than either of us have been alive. This has nothing to do with bloodlines and everything to do with power. And he holds it all.” He shrugged and smiled at her. “Whether you are ready to accept it or not, he is your dragon.”

  “I don't want to talk about him right now.” Alex stood up and swayed slightly. The blanket was still wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair lay in a tangle around her face.

  Neeren laughed. “As you wish. Come with me. I'll take you to your room so you can sleep off the rum. Are you hungry? I'll have someone bring you dinner. Why don't you take the time to rest and we will talk again later? The nights are long and beautiful here. I'll walk you by my ocean and you can meet your people.”

  Chapter 22

  Collum paced in front of the fire in the great room, watching the twilight with a bottle of whiskey by his side. She left me. She'd taken another's hand and walked away. He wanted to stand on the roof and tell the moon to fuck off. Instead, he tipped the bottle to his mouth, chugged, and swore at shadows.

  He thought back to the day he'd first met Alex. Kaylen begged him to save the baby. She’d been a fragile bundle of blubber and he’d been terrified. He’d never held a baby. He’d been trained to kill things, to exact punishment. She’d been his chance at redemption. Look at him now—all the work he'd done to make her disappear and he’d failed. Been too cocky. Then again, he'd planned on fighting off Elementals, not a man who could open portals.

  Somehow, Domhall had known. Fucking Domhall. He never should have trusted that lunatic.

  He silently raged to the wind and the dark. She was gone. After two thousand years, he’d found her in the most unexpected place and she’d left him. Collum pitched the empty bottle into the fire and reached for another. Steam poured off his body. His wings tensed, shifted beneath his skin.

  He barely had a glance for his ancestral home. The history that usually burrowed into his bones to calm him had no effect tonight. His body ached to fight and kill. It’s what he was good at. What his father trained him to do. He threw the second bottle at the fireplace to watch it shatter. To rain liquid over fire. He failed. He never fucking failed. When he found the son of a bitch that took her, he’d break him slowly, and relish every goddamn second of it.

  ~ ~ ~

  The knocking on the door barely broke through the haze in Collum’s mind. Glenn entered without waiting for an answer.

  “Before you bite my head off, you should know you have a visitor.”

  “Get out. What part of don't disturb me don't you get?”

&
nbsp; “You may have most of the village terrified of you. You may have most of the dragons bowing and scraping to you like you’re some kind of king or something. You don't pay me enough for that.”

  “I am a king and I pay you a goddamn fortune.”

  “Yeah, funny how it doesn't matter.” Glenn laughed. “As I said you have a visitor.”

  Collum snarled low in his throat and turned back to pick up the fourth bottle. “Get rid of him. I have nothing to say to anyone.”

  “Well, I could do that, but I'm not going to. I suspect she isn't one who takes no for an answer very often.”

  “He's right, mi amour, I don't.”

  A tiny creature pushed past Glenn and strode into Collum’s hall like she owned it. Her waist length, mahogany hair flew out behind her. Hazel eyes framed by lush black lashes, filled with laughter. She strutted into his home wearing knee high black stiletto boots and red leather pants, and flopped in the chair closest to his bar.

  “Hey, big guy, chill. You called me. Any more of that whiskey hanging around? It's been a long flight and my feet are killing me.”

  Glenn cleared his throat. “My lord, may I present, Maria Del Voscovo—The Witch.”

  The woman lounging on Collum’s chair said, “Ah, Glenny, what a great intro. You should get a raise. But you guys can just call me Mar.”

  Collum remained silent. He blinked. The woman in front of him walked in looking like sex on a stick and knew it. Her perky breasts pushed up and spilled over the bustier she wore. Leather pants moulded to her flesh like a second skin.

  “So, what do they call you? I mean I can't keep saying big guy, can I? Though it does have a certain ring. Have you looked in the mirror lately?” She winked. “Taking steroids, are we?”