Page 19 of Dragon Blood (Dragon Island #3)

D iscussions with Heidi Brandt, Odson Blackridge and the Wardens lasted late into the night.

Black River needed to be aware of the increased threat that the Consortium posed to the paranormal community. War was coming, and there was little doubt that the Consortium would be involved. The shifters and the wardens would be ready, should the dragons need to call on them.

The following morning, Kai set up a meeting with Bayn Long in Toronto, while Astred left a message for Joey Kane to call her back.

If Kai was right, they needed to talk to Bayn about the temple in the vision and what it meant.

Astred’s first inclination was to assert that Aeleftheria could resolve her own problems, but she quickly stayed the urge.

She had to wait and see how things played out in the coming days. It was still too early to decide if this could be handled internally.

The visions told her it wouldn’t be.

Though the battle loomed over Aeleftheria in the vision, the combatants were undefined.

Astred needed time to sort through everything she and Kai had witnessed.

And the remnant? Shivering, her gaze sought Kai with fresh eyes.

Where did he learn to do that? To control shadows like that?

If he hadn’t been there to protect her from that thing while she struggled to understand the vision…

She forced her thoughts back to the surface mission rather than the underground journey.

Regina had gone to great effort to show her political stance regarding alliances and unity outside of their own borders.

Astred couldn’t shut that down now. She needed to nurture those relationships, whether she called on them for this immediate crisis or not.

Relationships that Elora, Regina’s closest friend and ambassador, had begun to foster decades ago. They’d set things in motion, and with Regina’s absence, Astred had little choice but to take up the mantle.

And after that vision, she was determined more than ever to do things her way. Not the Council’s way. Regina had put in her time to keep them happy.

No longer.

While nothing had changed regarding the vital need to protect the Mother and their borders, Astred would ensure the dragons would work together.

Everything, indeed, was about to change.

Princess Astred Arakkil was at the helm in her mother’s absence, and she had no intention of letting her ass get chapped on the queen’s throne.

No.

Resolved in her earlier decision, they would meet with Bayn Long, one of the Eastern tribe princes, while Odson headed for Jori Mountainside Tiger drama. Constantly letting me know how you’ve neglected them. You should call them now and then. They won’t be happy if you don’t stop over to see them since you’re in the country.” Aaron sniffed the air as he withdrew a bottle of wine, handing it to Kai as he swapped out his shoes for slides. “Sea bass?”

Kai set the bottle on the counter.

“The corkscrew is in the top left drawer.” Bayn waved a hand in the right direction, then pursed his lips as he looked at Aaron. “Just in time to not do any work.”

“I brought wine. My work is done.” He grinned at Astred and swept into a low bow, reaching out to kiss the back of her hand. “Your Grace.”

Kai’s tiger stirred from his nap.

Where Kai expected Astred to bristle at the forward gesture, she laughed as though they were old friends. “Agent Connor.”

“You two know each other?” Bayn’s brows lifted, looking between the two, then shot a glance at Kai, who shrugged.

Wine bottle in hand, he also closely monitored the interaction between Aaron and Astred.

“Nope, never laid eyes on such an exquisite dragoness,” Aaron released her hand with a flourish.

“So, Toronto transit, huh?”

Aaron leaned too close as they dove into light chatter about the city’s public transportation.

Astred looked at him too often, her smile too interested.

Kai’s tiger growled.

“Everything okay over there?” Bayn asked, brows raised.

Kai glanced up to see everyone looking at him.

“Can’t find the corkscrew,” he muttered, thumb swiping at the label.

“Top left drawer.” Bayn tilted his head in the indicated direction, a knowing smile tugging at his lips as he dropped his gaze to the sizzling pan.

Kai retrieved the corkscrew, opened the bottle without issue and carried it to the table where Astred studied him with renewed interest.

Aaron’s eyes twinkled without any effort to hide a smirk.

Kai poured wine into the glasses as Bayn finished up his work at the stove and began plating the food.

“So, Princess, tell me more about this little adventure that has the two of you gallivanting across the continent.” Aaron grinned, leaning toward Astred with his most winsome smile and flirtatious tone.

Kai rolled his eyes at his ridiculous cousin, turning to Astred. “Remember that Bond phase I warned you of? Well, he hasn’t grown out of it yet.”

Astred laughed as Aaron gave Kai a pained look.

“You don’t have to make me look bad in front of royalty, Kai.”

“No, I don’t. You do that all by yourself, cousin,” Kai gave Aaron’s shoulder a bump as he passed him to collect Bayn’s work of art on gleaming china. “This smells amazing.”

“Of course it does. I’ve had centuries to perfect the recipe and adjust to heat methods and changes in seasoning.” Bayn arched a brow as he set the first plate in front of Astred. “Captain.”

“Oh, Captain, is it?” Aaron turned with even more interest.

Astred dipped her head. “Preferably, if you insist on titling me at all.” She leaned over the plate, eyes closed, inhaling. “I’m drooling already.”

“Pirate Princess, I believe someone said.” Kai relaxed as the banter continued to slide to other topics, but his watchful tiger maintained his vigilance with the competition. Picking up his chopsticks, he wrangled his errant thoughts.

Don’t be stupid, Kai.

‘She’s ours,’ his dragon stated, cracking that eye open again. The tiger agreed.

She belongs to no one.

‘She just needs time to realize we all belong together.’

Kai drew a long, slow breath before he reached for his glass as Bayn finally settled in after seeing to the last few details. “Shall we?”

“To?”

“To the success of Princess Captain Astred’s secret mission,” Aaron’s teeth gleamed as his grin widened impossibly more.

“Sounds good to me,” Astred shrugged. “And to Bayn’s culinary talents.”

They touched glasses and sipped.

Unable to keep his eyes from Astred for long, Kai continually reminded himself that he loved his cousin.