Page 133

Chapter 46

The next morning, I wake and head downstairs. I have a list of things that needed doing today, but the first thing on that list was speaking to Pluto. Dragus never came to bed so I assumed Silas told him to stay with the man overnight until he could be trusted.

Wandering around the castle though, I can’t find him anywhere, so decide to check the stables. The sun is already up, the snow outside slowly starts to melt as I trudge to the back of the castle. When it wasn’t snowing, I will have to remember to ask Silas if he could take me flying again. Wings and snow just don’t mix, and I sure as hell didn’t feel like freezing from having to wear a singlet in the cold to use my wings.

As I approach the stables, I notice the door is wide open, smoke billowing out the door, my heart skips a beat as nervousness creeps in. Silas didn’t really force the man to sleep outside in the elements, did he? As I step in though, I find Dragus asleep just inside the door, while Pluto is tending to the horses that have been returned to stables at some point. Come to think of it, I wonder where they were put, one of them had dragged the fire pit toward the entryway which was burning making the place quite warm.

I step inside and lean over the back of Dragus’s chair, kissing his lips softly. His eyes open instantly, before a smile creeps onto his face.

“Morning,” he says.

“Morning, did Silas make you and Pluto stay outside all night?” I ask

Pluto comes out of the stall, which has a brown horse in it. “Don’t worry, I don’t feel the cold, and I like being outside with the horses. It’s been awhile since I have been able to pet one, marvellous creatures they are,” he says walking over to me. Dragus watches his every move carefully as he approaches but doesn’t say anything.

Pluto looks quite different compared to last night, he has cut his hair which is now shaved close to his head. Dragus has also given him some clothes which I recognized as his own, having seen him in the same blue shirt and jeans. Pluto is small compared to the Dragon Kings, who were all muscle on muscle. I suppose being a castaway would do that though.

“Are you hungry?” I ask and he nods.

“I will go get you something to eat,” I tell him when Dragus stands up.

“I will go, will you be alright here by yourself, or I can wait and get Matitus to come out?” Dragus asks, stretching his arms above his head, I hear his back crack like he had been in the same position for an extended amount of time.

“I will be fine, but Silas might get angry,” I warn him, and he shrugs.

“I can handle Silas’s wrath, it’s yours I am more worried about,” he tells me while looking to Pluto, who is watching our exchange.

“I am trusting you not to touch my mate, I mean it, I come back here you won’t just lose your wings, I will take your life”, he warns him, and Pluto puts his head down nodding. Dragus seems satisfied and walks out, leaving me with the man.

Pluto instantly relaxing when he goes out of view.

“They seem very protective of you, so Dragus is your mate?” he asks curiously.

“All three of them are,” I tell him, and he seems a little shocked, making me chuckle.

“I was wondering why you smell so strongly of them, and they you. Interesting,” he ponders looking back at the horse.

“You like horses?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yes, grew up around them, though they tend to not like my Dragon side which is to be expected. But in this form, I can get close to them,” he says, picking up a brush and brushing the horse. I sit on the seat Dragus was in next to the fire.

“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”

“No, you can ask me anything,” he replies.

I nod, warming my hands on the fire. “How long were you like that, stuck in that form?”

“I don’t know, a long time. I think just after the war so however long ago that was,” he says.

“So, a hundred years ago?” I ask.

“It’s been a hundred years already?” he asks, utterly shocked. I nod.

“So, you lost your mate?”

“Yes, killed in the war, she was a Fae like yourself, not a royal one, but I recognize those eyes, you’re an Aziza,” he says, staring at me. I nod, it feels weird my bloodline being recognized just by the color of my eyes. “Aziza’s were amongst the most powerful Fae, had gifts of healing, just like the Helcate bloodline. My mate used to work for Helcates in their castle,” he tells me.

“Healing abilities?” I ask and he nods.