“After Valeria, I never thought you’d find another mate.”
Her name echoed throughout the room, and I froze in the midst of packing my things. In the years since she died, the members of my court had spoken of her so little, hearing her name spoken aloud was a shock. “Neither did I,” I murmured.
“I hope it works out for you. I mean that. I’m eager to meet her.”
I cleared my mind of my first mate. Memories of her were a black road I’d be best served by not revisiting. “Provided that we don’t run into another band of rogue humans, we should be there by week’s end.”
“We’ve had no reports of attacks in the Northlands, but they’ve never ventured so far away from their territory. Do you truly believe they’ll risk crossing the ocean to retaliate?”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore. Tensions have been rising against our people since long before we agreed to protect Aurelia’s southern borders from their vengeance. It may be that the time has come for them to place all the blame on us.”
“Regretting the promise to Baron yet?” Alaric asked. There was a teasing note to his voice, but the meaning behind the question wasn’t without reason. There were plenty of female shifters I could have mated with, who wouldn’t have brought the wrath of the humans down on our clan.
But none from as powerful a line as Elena. None with as close a tie to the throne, and therefore our ancestors, as her. None who ever caused me to doubt my vow to live the rest of my days alone, locked up in my castle, dooming my people to extinction.
“We didn’t have another choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“No, you always have a choice. You left your kingdom without a second thought. If I leave, my people are the ones with no choice.”
“I won’t take that personally. Anyone would be rather put out after shackling themselves to another for the rest of their days.” I couldn’t tell from the mirror alone if the jab had offended him. I regretted it nearly the second it spilled from my lips. Alaric’s history was as complicated as my own, and I had no right to judge.
There wasn’t an Immortal on the planet who didn’t have a tragic story to tell about their past, and his was more tragic than most.
“I apologize. That was wrong of me to say.”
He changed the subject, and I knew all was forgiven. “We’ve doubled the guard around the castle and in the crypts since the attack in Braedon. If they dare attack, they won’t make it out unscathed. I have to tell you, I’ll be more at ease when everyone is back safe.”
“That makes two of us. Any other happenings I should be aware of?”
“We’ve had reports of a ampire and a solitary fae in the area,” he answered.
“Really? That’s unusual.”
“Everything these days is unusual. None of the Immortal races are stable anymore. Something is brewing.”
I wasn’t ignorant to the tensions between the Immortals and the humans, or even between the Immortals themselves. The curse had so long been my focus; I’d had no time to worry about the rest of the world going to Slaine. Once we broke the curse, I’d figure out how to save us from everyone else. There wouldn’t be a Dragon-Clan to fret over if we didn’t.
“We’ll deal with it when it comes. But if any of them show threatening behavior, you have my permission to deal with them as you see fit.” It wasn’t often vampires orfae ventured so far North.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll have Raiden handle the fae, should they make an appearance.” His expression in themirrorwas grave, but I didn’t pry.
“Of course.” There was a knock at the door and a servant stuck his head through the door at my call.
“The carriages are ready, my lord,” he said with a bow.
“Thank you.” At my motion, they closed the door behind them. “I must go, friend.Mirrorif you run into any trouble.”
“Safe travels,” Alaric said.
I could only offer his reflection a grim nod. He was right, somethingwasbrewing, something even worse than the curse that tormented my people. With so few Dragon shifters left, if a war were to break out among the Immortals and humans, those who depended on me would be more vulnerable than ever.
It had never been so vital to produce an heir and break the curse.
11
Elena
