The Mating Season: Werewolves of Montana Book 6 (23 page)

The dragon shifter swatted at them with no real effort.

“True enough.” Tristan’s expression grew stormy. “I could cause an injury within you that would never heal. One that would tear apart that organ you once called a heart.”

“Even here, in my quiet place of respite, I am plagued by flies…and sharp-tongued wizards.”

“And I am plagued by a dragon who betrayed me and caused my death,” Tristan shot back.

Drust heaved a deep breath. “I did not betray you, Tristan. I told you when you first saw me here in the Shadow Lands. But you chose not to believe me. Each time you came here on the anniversary of your death to taunt me, you refused to believe I was not the one who turned you over to the Fae king’s men.”

“I had proof it was you, dragon. I saw the letter you wrote to Emer, telling him where I hid, telling him I knew where the dragon eggs were hidden.”

The dragon shook his head in denial. “What does it matter? You will believe what you wish—that I am guilty of everything and I caused all your suffering.”

“Not only mine, but my Nikita’s as well.” Tristan snarled. “And now at last she is back with me, after all these centuries.”

Drust glanced at her and his mouth curled into a smile. The smile vanished, replaced with a cynical look.

“You finally have your Nikita back again as your mate, eh Tristan? Had I known this, I would have bought you a mating gift—a supply of Viagra. You are more than fourteen hundred years old. It must be difficult to maintain an erection at your age.”

Unsmiling, Tristan stared back. “It’s even harder to maintain one when you are dead, dragon.”

“I may not have had sex in centuries, but at least I am not a randy wolf. Does Nikita know of your sexual conquests since you have been parted? All those women in your bed who shared your cock? How faithful to her memory were you, wolf?”

The words stung, even though she knew Drust said them to taunt the wizard. She knew that Tristan had taken many lovers over the centuries. But hearing someone actually say it brought an unpleasant visual to her mind. Tristan’s wolf surfaced as sharp claws emerged from his fingers.

“Those women meant little to me. I gave them pleasure and they gave me pleasure as well. I never gave them anything else, and they did not expect anything.”

“If you’d truly loved your mate all these centuries, Tristan, why did you seek pleasure in their beds? Wasn’t the memory of Nikita good enough?” Drust mocked.

“My sex life is none of your concern, dragon.” But she could see the strain around his mouth, and sense the gathering tension within him. Above the dragon, a huge crystal stalactite began to drip. Tiny droplets of crystal-clear water formed a puddle near Drust.

The stalactite smashed downward. Drust leapt aside just before it reached his head. The dragon blew a breath and red flames melted the man-sized crystal.

“It takes more than that to harm me here in the afterworld, you sly wolf. I’m already dead.”

“Do not underestimate me. Just because you are living in the Land of Shadow does not mean I cannot make you suffer,” Tristan snapped.

He opened his fist and a tremendous ball of silver fire flickered there. Tristan closed his fist and the energy ball vanished.

“Enough of this. I am here to take Prince Alexander back to the world of the living, where he belongs, so he may marry the Princess Sabrina and unite Clan Drakon and Clan Ciamoth.”

“Alex doesn’t want to marry her and he’s not here.” Drust leaned back, folded his arms.

“Liar,” Tristan said softly. “I know exactly where he is, and what you have been doing with him. You have fed him all your knowledge and all your tales of honor and glory. You have made him promise to remember you, so your name will live on in history You made him your companion because you are so lonely at night your spirit screams for a friend, for anyone to converse with.”

His smile grew dark. “Even a lowly black raven, who came to visit you, sat on your shoulder and saw all. You stroked his feathers and you called him friend, as you once called a Lupine friend before you betrayed me to King Emer, you fucking bastard.”

Drust stared at Tristan, his jaw dropping, and stood, nearly knocking over the chair. “You spied on me? You knew I was here, with Alexander, all this time?”

“I told you to never underestimate my powers, dragon. In life…and in death.” Tristan’s tone went deep with warning. “You have no business dealing with the living.”

Drust stiffened. “You’re an arrogant sod, Tristan. Haven’t changed in centuries. Becoming the mighty Silver Wizard has only made you more high and mighty. My great-grandson is my blood, my business, you fucking wolf. Now get the hell out of my home.”

Tristan ignored him. Nostrils flaring, he walked to the back of the cavern where another entrance had been cut into the mountain. “Prince Alexander, come out of there.”

Nikita rubbed her hands, feeling suddenly cold. Pins and needles stabbed at her feet. She wasn’t certain if the pain was from the emotions pulsing here in this cave, or something else.

A tall, handsome, dark-haired man entered the main cavern. His aura glowed bright silver, pulsing with threads of pure red. Out of all the creatures she’d seen in the Shadow Lands, he glowed the brightest.

It must be Alex.

Clad in blue jeans and a grimy gray baseball shirt, he stared at them. His silky black hair was clipped short and his lean cheeks and tight jaw were clean-shaven. He had blue-green eyes with thickset dark brows pulled downward into a scowl as he studied Tristan.

Drust joined his great-grandson and put a hand on his shoulder. “Alexander, I told you to keep to your studies. This has nothing to do with you.”

But the crown prince shook off Drust’s hand and approached Tristan without fear.

“What are you doing here? You, the wizard who refused to help my Emma.”

The wizard’s look was severe. “You cannot remain here, despite your ability. You are a Shadow Jumper, Prince Alexander. You are one of the rare Others with the ability to go back and forth between Earth and this world when a portal is opened, but that doesn’t mean you can stay.”

Niki went to the table and sat down, her legs feeling rubbery. She had no idea Shadow Jumpers existed, but such magick must be quite powerful.

The prince looked guilty. “I wanted to visit my Pops.”

Drust’s expression softened as he gazed at his great-grandson. “I am glad of your company, Alex, and I still have much to teach you.”

Tristan shook his head. “Having the ability does not mean you can merely use that power as you wish. You have been jumping back and forth between worlds, using the portal I left open for your cousin Sebastian. I am taking that ability away from you unless you promise to never come here again.”

Tristan’s voice hardened. “There are great consequences to Shadow jumping. The more time you spend here, the less your attachment becomes to your world.”

“I can’t return yet. Not now. He’s been teaching me, telling me ancient battle strategies in how to deal with the dragons who hurt my Emma.”

“She is not your Emma,” Tristan said gently.

“She’s my best friend.” Alex scrubbed his face with both hands, his expression haunted. “Four red dragons jumped her in the woods and assaulted her before I could reach her. They could have killed her.”

“Yes, but they did not.”

Alex seemed to consider. “I’m a dragon, and I protect my own. You don’t protect us. You’re the all-powerful, all-mighty wizard and yet you let them roam free!”

The wizard only looked pained. “I am sorry about that, Alexander. I could not interfere with her fate. And it is not my duty right now to punish the dragons responsible for that evil. That I must leave for another time.”

Secrets flickered in Tristan’s dark eyes. Tristan was the Silver Wizard, guardian and protector of all shifters, including dragons. If it was not his duty, then whose duty was it to deliver justice?

“I can’t lose Em,” Alex whispered. “I don’t wish to marry Sabrina and I will not rest until I find the red dragons who assaulted Em.”

He gave Drust a fond look. “After Pops pulled me in here, he promised to help me learn to sharpen my battle skills in Skin and in dragon form. Pops told me he was an excellent warrior back in his day.”

“All will work out as it should, Alexander. Trust me in this. When you prove yourself worthy, you shall win love. Now, are you ready to return home?” Tristan asked.

“I’m staying a while longer.” Alex leaned against the wall and folded his arms. “Let them find another to marry the princess and became a stud for the kingdom. Why should I?”

“You have family who love you, Alexander.” Tristan’s gaze went distant, as if seeing something from afar. “And you will find love of your own, a special love, if you listen to your heart.”

The prince shook his head. “My family cares only about my title, not me as a person. It was only with Em that I felt I could be myself and not the prince.” He glanced at Drust. “And here as well, with Pops. Give me a damn good reason to rush back there.”

“There is this.” Tristan removed the dragon’s scale from his tunic pocket. “Your cousin’s mate, Skylar, sacrificed this scale for you, as proof you are much needed on Earth. You have family there, family like Sebastian and Skylar, who love you. A clan who needs your leadership. This is no life for you here among the dead.”

Alex took the scale and turned it over in his hands. Blinking, he looked up, his gaze filled with awe. “Sebastian did this for me? He allowed his mate, his greatest love, to have this taken from her?”

“Your cousin would do anything for you,” Tristan said gently. “As his mate would. They agreed to sacrifice the scale to show you how precious you are to them and your clan.”

The wizard glanced at Alex’s ancestor. “Once Drust would have done the same for me, and I would have done it for him. We had that kind of bond as well, long ago, but it was broken.”

Drust looked away, guilt etching his expression.

“Sebastian must be very worried about me to allow you to do this to Sky. She’s his heart and soul.” He turned the dragon scale over in his hand. “Did it hurt her?”

“Yes. But I replaced the scale with a crystal one, courtesy of the Crystal Wizard. Skylar now has impenetrable diamond scales that no weapon may pierce.”

Alex gave his first real smile. “Thank you. I’m sure that will ease Sebastian’s mind. He’s always worried about protecting her.”

“A trait that comes with male shifter mates,” Tristan murmured, his gaze flicking to her. “Are you ready to return home now?”

“I wish I could stay here a little longer. My Pops is the only one who has the patience to work with me to teach me ancient history, share stories of our family’s lineage, and how to fight like a warrior with honor.”

Honor? Nikita laughed. Suddenly very weary, she propped her chin upon one fist. “Your ‘Pops’ has no honor, Alexander. He was responsible for killing me in my last lifetime, and my unborn baby.”

Alexander’s jaw dropped. Drust shook his head. “Do not listen to them, son.”

“Of course I won’t. It’s not true.” The dragon prince turned to Drust. “Tell me it’s not true.”

Drust did not reply, only shook his head, looking ashamed.

“You killed her? And her unborn baby?!” Face expressive with shock and grief, he stared at his great-grandfather.

“That is what Tristan believes.”

“Did you?” Alexander demanded.

“I was responsible for her death,” Drust said quietly. “It was my fault.”

“All this time you droned on and on about dragon honor, and you killed an innocent? A babe in the womb, and a pregnant woman?” Alexander burst out.

“Alexander, wait,” Drust began…

“Your great-grandfather also betrayed me and caused my torture, and execution.” Satisfaction etched Tristan’s expression. “I daresay he failed to mention that tidbit in your lessons about ancient history.”

Alexander stepped back, lines of strain bracketing his wide mouth, his jaw rigid.

“You’re a bastard, Pops,” the prince whispered. “You told me that our family lineage was honorable and now I find out that you betrayed Tristan, your friend? What honor is that? You told me to be a dragon prince I must never tolerate liars or those who would betray. And you did this?!”

Niki wanted to feel satisfaction at the guilt on Drust’s face, but she did not. She only felt pity and sadness. To be rejected by one’s own family must be shameful.

She wriggled her fingers, worried about how they seemed to be losing feeling.

“Alexander, it is not as you think,” Drust said. Then the dragon’s shoulders sagged. “You will not believe me, either.”

Alex looked dully at his great-grandfather. “You are dead to me. Dead to all of us at Clan Drakon. I will enact this into law upon my return. No one will ever remember you, or tell tales around the fireplace of your great deeds because it’s all bull. All of it.”

Then the crown prince turned back to Tristan. “I’ll go home. I never want to come here again.”

Drust roared, flames shooting out of his mouth and covering the cavern wall. He reached out a hand to his descendant. “Alexander! Do not leave me here alone!”