Chapter 40: Between Family

No.

The word echoes around us, stunning both the Technician and I.

“I will not help you,” his teeth are bared, his fangs extended to sharp points. “You unnatural cultural appropriation technology-stealing monster. How many of my people had to die for you to get this contraption to work? How many did you lock into this Dream State to steal our secrets?”

“I have killed no Moon Dragons,” the Technician swears. “Nor did I steal this technology. It was given freely to Segundus while…”

“Spare me your lies,” the king is spitting mad, foaming at the mouth in anger. “I will help, but not for you.” his night sky eyes are blazing with specks of starlight. “Never for you. But I will do it because of her.” He points down at Carnelia. “And him and all the innocents across our kingdoms who will be forced to suffer at the hands of a fool because you were too stupid to do your research before making matters more complicated.”

He reaches forward and places his bare hand into the tub.

The Technician rushes forward but is stopped by a single command from the Elf King, who glares at the masked figure as if the dirt beneath his talons had more worth. Placing his hand on Primus' brow, his hand glows briefly as the King closes his eyes. Humming, he keeps his hand there for several minutes.

"His pain will end soon," he declares, "He and Carnelia are so close to finding a solution, but they are still learning how to work together," he muses.

Removing his hand from Primus, his symbols continue to glow as he reaches over to touch Carnelia. When their skin touches, his mark flairs to life, bright enough that I need to close my eyes from the glare.

"Ah," he gasps. I can hear the smile in his words as he continues saying, "Well then, I was right. She is something very special. It is a shame she grew up away from her people. Properly trained she would have been..." he pauses, realizing he may have already said too much in front of a potential enemy.

"Yes, I can help you. I can help both of them, but I will need assistance," Thalan turns to me and says. "I will need some of their personal effects and tokens from their children."

I nod. That is an easy task.

"I will also need to bring my scientist-priest into this. I will need back up and he is the only other Moon Dragon within leagues of this place."

The Technician nods in approval. "When can you start?"

"Tomorrow evening," he answers plainly. "I will need to gather my materials and rest my body and spirit to prepare. This entire," he pauses, swallowing back bile, "situation is a violation of my cultural and spiritual beliefs. It will take time for me to mentally prepare my scientist for this. He will need time to process all of this madness." He removes his hand, wipes it on his leg, and takes a step back. "I need a moment to process all of this madness as well."

Thalan promises to return to the laboratory at moonrise tomorrow night and the two of us return the way we came.

"If you don't mind," he whispers into the shadows, "I would like to bring your mate into this. It is important that we find out a few things about all of our families before we proceed. Also," he adds."I need him to see that I am no harm to you, and I want to reopen discussions between the Sun and Moon Kingdoms, and other than Carnelia, he is the only other surviving member of the Royal Sun Court."

I agree to take him to the infirmary so that he and Daax can meet. "And you will be able to see the children as well," I smile thinking of my beautiful nieces and nephews, all glowing with new health.

We reach a nexus point within the tunnels and using my best guess, I veer in the direction of the new wing of the castle, closer to where my family is staying. Thankfully there is still nobody around to see us. I do not want to have to explain to the Queen why the Elf King is wandering around her halls at night. I still get the feeling that she is waiting for a reason to kick my entire family out of the palace while keeping our children.

I don't understand her obsession with Carnelia and Primus' babies. She has been asking for them since they hatched and has never been able to give a good reason why. Not that we would have given them over to her even with a good reason. The drakaina cannot be trusted--especially with anything as precious as our children.

My first thought was that maybe she wanted to pass them off as her own--a beautiful, healthy set of royal babies to secure her power.

It's not like she can pass them off as her own. Everyone knows they are Carnelia's and none of them resemble the false queen whatsoever. They are a beautiful, unmistakable blend of their two parents, some with skin and hair combinations that would be impossible for Eleanora's body to produce with her pale, icy beauty.

Even now, with them recovering from this great illness, she keeps trying to negotiate in a way that keeps our children close while keeping us further away. She has something in mind for them. Knowing what I know of her, I can't imagine it will be something good.

When we find an exit point near where I think we need to be, we stumble out into a hallway only a couple of turns away from where my family is waiting. Quietly, we walk to where my husband is guarding the door. When he sees me arrive, his face brightens only to darken again when he sees the Elf King behind me.

He may have known where I was going, but that doesn't mean that he approves of my actions.

"My Queen," Daax stands formally, bowing as a good knight would, allowing me to pass. When the Elf King tries to pass, Daax blocks the door with his body, almost crashing into King Thalan who pauses barely a breath away from him.

Staring at one another, neither drake moves. A smile slowly creeps across the face of the Elf King, "Step aside, Aegir," he grins. "You have grown quite tall since I last saw you, but I am sure I can still best you."

"Not on your life," Daax growls. "You lost the right to these children when you let their cousins and aunts and uncles die by colonizer hands."

"Another time perhaps," he bows to me, and then to Daax. "Please, as it suits you, meet me at the Elfhome tent around noon. There is much I need to discuss with both of you."

I stare at my husband. There is a story here, a story that he has not shared with me. What happened between the Moon and Sun Kingdoms to build such animosity between them? Daax's sister married Thalan's brother. That means Daax and Thalan are brothers by marriage, much like Carnelia's sisters would have been my sisters had they lived.

Something soured between those two Celestial families. Something big by the way Daax's lip curls and his eyes dart from side to side as if to ward off potential dangers.

He's afraid of Thalan. Is that why he didn't want me to see the Elf King?

Thalan bows again and then walks backward into the shadows, never taking his eyes off of Daax.

I neither hear nor see him disappear, but in the space of a blink, the Elf King is gone.

Turning towards my husband, I give him a long, slow look.

I don't feel safe speaking in the hallway. I don't feel safe speaking anywhere in this castle.

So I raise my hand. I put a finger in his chest, glaring loudly to express my frustration, and then point to myself right before raising my hands to sign "fly."

He nods. We'll wait until Orion returns. Then we will have a much-needed discussion before our meeting tomorrow with the Elf King.

Because regardless of what Daax has to say, we will be sitting down with his brother-in-law tomorrow. I don't care how much he glowers or pouts. We have too many things to discuss. Important things. Things that involve our families.

Orion should be here soon. We won't have much time to wait.

Several hours later, I wake from my cot to the sound of boots on the ground. The door opens slowly and I hear the masculine voices of my mate and son discussing something serious in low voices.

"Do not go in there like this," I overhear Daax. "Go back to the room and clean yourself. Your mother..."

"Is standing right here," I sneak up behind Daax, glowering. What are they trying to hide from me."

Based on the light glowing behind my son, it is daybreak. I will need to sneak out now for Daax and me to have our little discussion before meeting the Elf king.

Orion was supposed to be back hours ago. What kept him so long?

But then he turns and I can see the change in him. Her smell on his body confirms it.

He and Kora are mated.