2:Chapter 34

One month later and a baby Aspen was born. A happy healthy baby boy lay in his crib as his brother and sister played near with Levi, Addison, and John. Liz patted my shoulder as Livia came in to watch the children as with Liz as I went to finish up more research. The men were probably out with their newly bonded dragons. Calling the guys in as we went back to our research.

We continued the dissection of each species, I also dove head first into books about auras, different corruptions, reversible and irreversible, even how some corruptions have a fine line when committing them. Killing another person for instance, was a corruption, taking pleasure in killing rapidly grew the dark aura but killing for battles, safety, and defense could crack it a smidge, but you can balance it out quickly. Theft was another one that had a fine line, stealing to gain wealth could corrupt the soul but stealing food and money to live and survive could cause an imbalance but could be balanced back quickly.

The men had left me alone to go and eat. The cooling air from their absence caused me to shiver and to take all my notes, books, and other items back to my office. I laid out another heat stone under my desk and went back to immersing myself.

“You know watching you study so diligently, makes you look incredibly sexy.” Rugan smiled as he brought in a bowl full of hot stew, and a refreshing drink.

“Mmmhmmm,” I sat my book down as I smiled at him mischievously. “well I guess I’ll have to read a lot more.” I reached for my book as he pulled it away.

“Nope, as sexy as you may be, it’s sexier seeing you eat and take care of yourself.” He gently grasped my chin tilting my head up as he kissed my lips passionately. I smiled against his lips. Nibbling my bottom lip, then slowly kissing along my jaw line, down to my collarbone and back to my mouth. Finally breaking the kiss as he left me breathless, it was his turn to smile mischievously.

“No more of that until you eat.” He smiled.

“Oh that's not fair.” I said flustered as he turned away and proceeded out the door. “That’s fine, two can play this game.” I made sure he was off the floor as I placed a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, shutting and locking it behind me. Now it was my payback time, flooding the mate bond once again with naughty, erotic images of us. Closing the mindlink down, I went back to eating and studying. After about 5 minutes I could hear clawing at the door. Snickering as I heard their voices outside.

“Who messed with Anya?” Shura hissed.

“Why would she send that through the bond and then shut us out?” Alastar whined.

“It seems she’s playing a game, but judging by her pheromones shes sexually flustered.” Elre commented.

“Why won’t she let us in?” Lazarath’s voice held concern. Then everything went silent, deathly silent. Looking up from my book I listened.

“RUGAN!” Shura’s voiced lashed through the air. “She did this the last time you stirred her up and then walked away! Did you fluster her AGAIN?”

“Well, she needed to eat and well I kind of stopped it from proceeding.” I heard Rugan softly speak.

“RUGAN!” Hearing 4 of them yell at him in unison had me cackling. Thanks to the wards placed on my office I could hear outside but no one could hear inside. Composing myself as I grabbed the empty bowl and glass, I had to pee and I was still hungry. My notes tidy on my desk I unlatched the lock, swinging the door open. I kept a straight face as I walked past them, catching their reflection on the glass, they were all glaring at Rugan, who was cheesing like a caught school boy. Taking the stairs I heard them trail after me all the way to the kitchen. As I placed my bowl and cup on the isle I turnedd around and had realized I had foolishly gotten myself pinned. Keep your face straight.

“Awww but look at Alastar giving you the puppy eyes.” Freya whined.

“Look at Rugan who looks so sad.” Althier added.

“Lazarath looks like he is on the verge of tears.”

“Shura and Elre look like their going to murder Rugan.” I snickered in my head.

I rose my eyebrows as I looked at them. “Yes?” That simple question opened a floodgate of apologies and whining and moaning. Alastar wrapping around me, then the others following. “Calm down calm down. I am not mad.” I giggled. “I do have to pee as the wee one is doing a tap dance on my bladder, but I am ok.” I smiled at them.

“Rugan told us what he did.” Shura hissed.

“Well, it is a little hard and I felt it was easier to let everyone in on his little game.” I chuckled.

“Well go alleviate your bladder, we are going to alleviate your fluster.” Alastar rocked his hips behind me rubbing his hardened member against my ass. I quickly went to the bathroom, but when I came out Alex was there, his face pale as he held a piece of paper.

“Alex? What has happened?” I ran to him.

“The northern village,” He looked at Rugan. “It’s under attack.”

“Call the troops now! We ride immediately.” I yelled over the balcony as the troops hurriedly prepared their mounts.

I spun into my armor as the others pulled on theirs. Rushing quickly to the balcony, I spread my wings as Shura and Lazarath grabbed Elre and Rugan, Alastar nodsing as we flew to the dragons. Blathir, Raza, Callipso, Ollifert, Gyll, and Moxi was ready as they bowed down for us to mount. Taking off and out of the stables, we sat in the sky as the others rapidly joined us. Once the sky was flooded, we shot off in the direction of the northern village. With the dragons we took a few hours but we arrived quickly, the warriors and guardians placed there fighting against the invaders. Cheering as they saw the onslaught of dragons, we joined grabbing the invaders, slashing, and biting. Jumping from Blathir, I drew my sword, coming down on a backstabber.

“Rugan find your grandfather! Get him to safety! Shura and Lazarath make sure the children are safe as well.” I mind linked them. We slashed and exchange blow after blow, taking down each invader. They seemed as if no fear existed as their black soulless eyes met mine time and time again.

“They act as if they have no soul and nothing to lose.” I connected to my mates and Alex.

“I have to behead them or they just keep getting up.” Rugan added.

“Take 5 alive but kill the rest.” I came back through the mind link. Hours went on, I had a few minor stab wounds, the others bloodied and battered but we finally claimed victory. I felt grief at the amount of lives lost. Thirty men and women were killed on our side another 150 or more on theirs. The water dragons dousing the flames of the fight, as we set out into the village looking at the cost of the damages.

“We need to get the carpenters and construction crew here, they’ll be able to give better numbers of materials to do the repairs.” I sigh looking around at the destruction, going into homes to badly burnt and retrieving items for the family, my face was covered in ash and soot. My armor and hair smelled like a campfire. Families sat outside their burnt houses, children crying, mothers soothing their children but tears welling up in them as well. I felt anger surge through me as took in more and more damages, deaths, and pain. I sat there watching as I the emotions burned through me. A hand touching my shoulder pulls me from my thoughts.

“Anya?” Alastar’s voice laced with concern.

“Bring the invaders to the dungeon,” I growled “I have a few questions for them.”

“Anya I don’t think we should…” Shura began saying something but with the anger I had coursing through my veins I cut him off.

“I said bring them NOW.” The growl deeper, my vision red, I was beyond pissed off. The look I had on horrified my mates as they stepped back. Turning to the squad leaders I began giving orders. “Make sure the families have places to stay, if they don’t we can give them shelter.” I commanded with strictness. Turning to the next. “Take your squad, I need a rough count of food needed, clothing, and drinking water.” He nodded aand took off to his squad releasing the order I had given to them. “Get your squad to see how many need medical assistance, we will set up a medical tent along with their hospital, minor wounds and injuries go through the tent and major to the hospital.” He ran off giving the order. I had given each remaining leader the tasks of beginning to clear the damages, debris, and another three was to collect the Soulless, piling them outside of the village, and setting fire to them. The anger still burning through my veins as I helped clear houses and pulling the debris and damaged walls and material to passing wagons. Keeping myself as busy as possible, trying to work the emotions off.

“Anya you need to space yourself and scream, yell, cry, but you need to get rid of these emotions before we snap at our mates again.” Freya whispered in my head, Althier agreeing.

“Fine.” I snapped back.

“I need to search the perimeter. If anyone asks for me that’s where I will be.” My voice carried a growl as one of the other warriors nodded. Taking off I shifted into Freya, I felt the wet earth and ash squish beneath our paws, the more I connected to the earth underneath the deeper I tucked in and pushed myself forward. Runnin hard until I was a few miles away, once shifted back I hit my knees and unleashed a haunting, deafening scream. The force behind it shaking the earth and trees as my palms lit up the earth beneath them, releasing my emotions into the earth. My power rippling across the forest floor in a rainbow pattern, causing the plants to surge with the mimicking color, blooming flowers and surging growth. Feeling a little better I unleashed another scream that rattled the earth again, this time my power surged even farther as I pushed all the anger and pain out. Rolling back onto my heels, my head dropping as I remember the terrified faces of children slaughtered before we could get to them. They had no mercy on the innocents of the village and I was going to give it back. A hand on my shoulder pulled my attention as Shura and the others sat with me. Rugan a beautiful black wolf with red eyes whimpered as he laid his head on my lap. He had lost his cousins in the battle. Their mother sobbed as we informed her of their passing. I sat my forehead to his as I cried feeling the pain of lost loved ones.

“Anya we will avenge them but right now we need our queen to lead us.” Lazarath placed his head on my shoulder. Alastar laid his between my shoulder blades and Shura on my other shoulder. Elre placed his forehead to mine as he laid his hand on Rugan.

“We feel your pain Rugan, we will allow you to avenge your family but we all need to help your village now. Your grandfather is searching for you along with your aunt. They wish to go ahead and bury Allie and Anzel.” He whispered as Rugan’s eyes met his, pain shared between the two as we all stood in our human forms. Elre putting his forehead to Rugan's as his hand clasped his shoulder, once he moved Shura and the others did the same. Laying my forehead to his, I kissed him gently as the tears streamed my face.

We ran back to the village, Rugan seeking out his grandfather and starting the preparations. The damaged materials moved out the village looked a lot better, but the smell of blood and ash still perforated the air.

The tent bustling with people as mages and medics were healing and pushing people out as quickly as they came in, after about three hours the sun peeked above the mine. The medical tent pulled down as the mages and medics started to help out in the hospital. Carpenters had already started rebuilding as numerous frames were up and others had walls already placed. The bell sounded as the death service was beginning.