SkyFall (Taken on the Wing Book 2) (38 page)

Anything but this.

“
What?
”
At
first her admission does nothing to ease his anger with her but as the seconds
drag on he needs to hear an explanation more than he needs to speak his piece.

“
Aa,
”
this time the swallowing doesn
’
t stop and the right wing starts to beat.
Flay gets her arms around Tempest before she knocks herself over.

“
Sshhh,
Tempest,
”
Flay whispers.
“
Don
’
t try and talk, you
’
ll get through this. Relax.
”

“
Bees,
”
Tempest shouts as the
wing calms and falls.
“
Bees.
”

“
Tempest,
”
Soar tries. For the moment the only thing
that matters is there is something very wrong with his pregnant female.
“
I swear I didn
’
t know the bees would hurt you.
”

“
Bees,
”
she repeats as the swallowing
resumes.

“
She portalled too many times today,
”
Flay explains.
“
She was drained before we left and the
pregnancy prevents her from getting her energy back quickly.
”

“
I don
’
t understand,
”
Soar says, angry with Flay. Whatever the
bitch did to Tempest might have hurt his children. Behind him, Tundra and the
other gryphons are silent. Yeah, guys, this is the mate I wouldn
’
t name.

“
Your babies are fine, Soar,
”
Flay whispers and offers a smile.
“
Tempest can think, but everything else is
misfiring. We
’
ve all been through it. She
hid her condition as long as she could but when I figured it out we fled.
”

“
Figured it out,
”
Soar echoes as Flay grabs his wrist and
places his fingers on the subtle firmness of Tempest
’
s belly. Even through her blood red
armour it
’
s there now that he knows to
look for it.

“
This, you dumb gryphon.
”

“
Ah,
fuck,
”
Soar says mainly to himself.
Flay is right. He
’
s a dumb gryphon for standing
there asking questions and not putting his mate first.
“
Come here, Tempest.
”

But she doesn
’
t move. Her pulse picks up as she tries
to resist the inviting pull of his wings. Misfiring, Flay said. Tempest could
stand on her head instead of taking a single step so he surrounds her with his
arms and wings and Flay is smart enough to get clear.

“
She needs to be comfortable to rest and
recover,
”
Flay says.

“
Food?
”

“
There is too much risk of choking. She
can eat when her motor control returns.
”

“
We
’
re gonna talk, Tempest,
”
Soar says. He doesn
’
t care who hears. Ignoring her in public
hurt her and he won
’
t do it again.
“
Just the way you like until we
’
re clear about everything. Then you
’
re not leaving my side even if I have to
take on the whole damn Will to keep you, understand?
”

“
Bees,
”
she whispers as Soar
tucks her head under his chin.

“
Yeah, bees.
”

“
Master Soar,
”
the male next to Flay
speaks. He kneels, then in a very dragonkin way he bows and offers his wrists
up in submission.

“
I am Daniel Cooper,
”
he says as the helmet
and glasses come off.
“
I am grateful for the
hospitality we have received. I ask to meet with Sire Lev and agree to any
conditions you name in order to do so.

“
My relationship with the Council is not
what it seems, nor is Aledaar and his relationship with the dragonkin. Allow me
to explain to Sire Lev, please, Master Soar.
”

Cooper is gaunt and unshaven. With his
head uncovered, a fading yellow bruise stands out in the space between one eye
and his beard.

“
Master Soar,
”
Flay kneels at Cooper
’
s side.
“
Daniel
Cooper is my sire and was a prisoner of Aledaar until we freed him tonight. The
Council will consider us criminals and we ask for sanctuary, if Sire Lev would
be so generous as to consider it.
”

She stands and reaches through the tangle
of Tempest and Soar
’
s arms and wings to feel her
pulse and stroke her hair from her face.

“
We will leave if you request it, Master
Soar,
”
Cooper adds.
“
We have no wish to bring trouble here.
”

“
Shit,
”
Soar shakes his head. A decision like
this isn
’
t his call and Lev needs to
address it as soon as possible.
“
Tundra, disarm Daniel Cooper
and escort him to Sire Lev. He is a guest until Lev decides otherwise.
”

“
Master,
”
Tundra acknowledges. He
’
s a good gryphon and hands off his
crossbow before pushing the others
’
weapons
to the ground. Then he helps Cooper to his feet and removes the dagger and boot
knife from his belt.

“
This way, Daniel Cooper,
”
Tundra
says.
“
And welcome to Vancouver Island.
”

“
Thank
you,
”
Cooper nods to Soar and takes
his place surrounded by the three rangers as they leave for the main chamber.

“
Will you carry her?
”
Flay asks.

Soar gathers Tempest in his arms. She
’
s like rubber and cooler than he expects.

“
Don
’
t fight me, Tempest,
”
Flay whispers and places a hand on
Tempest
’
s head.
“
Sleep.
”

Soar
’
s skin tingles with the power of Flay
’
s will and Tempest forces her heavy lids
up. She studies Soar, his eyes, his mouth, then draws a deep breath before her
lashes fall.

“
You used your will on her, didn
’
t you?
”

“
My sire can feel dragonkin will too, a
gift from his gryphon mating with my dame,
”
Flay explains.
“
You can resist it, can
’
t you?
”

“
Yes,
”
Soar
doesn
’
t know what to do with Tempest
besides hold her. His last attempt at treating her was a disaster.

“
I was unkind to you, Master Soar, when we
were at Skyfall. I was jealous. My male and the rest of his kind are slaves to
Aledaar. He has a powerful magic, an old dragon bone, that he uses to subjugate
the golds. Tempest suffered for days until he broke her spirit but he does not
control her. The pregnancy prevented it.

“
Until today, I thought Con would never be
free but now we have a chance.

“
I have come to love this young female. We
are kin, she and I, as you and I are. I do hope you won
’
t hold my mistreatment of you against me
or my sire.
”

“
I don
’
t know what to say, Flay,
”
Soar rocks side to side with the gentle
sway of holding an infant.
“
I accept your words.
”

“
Thank you. You should join Lev and my
sire. Cooper is very weak and will need rest as Tempest does. Come.
”

Damn, he feels silly now that Flay guides
him toward the tunnel.

“
It isn
’
t my intention to interfere or be a
nuisance,
”
Flay says as they make the
climb to the main chamber.
“
She is my charge, a young
dragonkin in need of a mentor. I will stay with her as long as she needs me and
remain nearby after that. You will probably want me around to deliver your
young unless you know another midwife who is fireproof.
”

“
I
—”

They are interrupted by a rush of
gryphons coming the other way. Talon and Shadow lead and Soar rolls Tempest a
little closer to hide her face.

“
Talon,
”
Shadow
gasps.
“
Oh my God, what are they?
Dragons?
”

“
Later,
”
Talon hisses and picks Shadow up. With
four months to go in her year long pregnancy, she
’
s awkward on her feet and still insists
on doing everything for herself. Lately it
’
s been easier for Talon to deal with her
stubbornness by packing her around and bearing her complaints.

“
But wait,
”
Shadow
strains to look over Talon
’
s shoulder. He adjusts his
hold to keep her white feathered wings from bashing everyone around her.

Soar and Talon pass each other, back to
back, in the narrowest part of the tunnel, Talon protects Shadow from the
dragonkin and Soar shields Tempest from their eyes.

Not ready to explain Tempest and me to
them, not yet.

“
Ward the entrance, remember?
”
Talon growls over Shadow
’
s struggles.

“
But I want to meet the dragons!
”

Flay laughs, an easy music that is
welcome in the wake of Talon
’
s panic. If Lev ordered Shadow
to use her precious energy to put up a protective barrier at the entrance then
whatever Cooper conveyed in only a few minutes is dire.

“
Does she need warmth, Lady Flay?
”
Soar
asks.

“
I can provide it if you feel she will be
more comfortable.
”

“
Please. I know I have a lot to learn
about her.
”

“
I am at your disposal, Soar,
”
she whispers as they step into the main
chamber.
“
As I am sure my sire is as
well.
”

Lev and Cooper kneel together at the far
side. A small fire has been lit and Cooper warms his hands between mouthfuls of
meat. Firn, Sire Lev
’
s companion of the past
decade, sits nearby with her hands on Cooper. She pays particular attention to
his wrist and interrupts her scowl only to ask questions about it.

“
Over here,
”
Flay
gestures to a deserted section of the chamber then holds a hand up to keep Soar
away. She leans forward and with a wet retch, coughs up a mouthful of something
Soar is sure he couldn
’
t produce. It ignites with a
loud snap and she spits fire at the ground. There are several shouts from
behind, the last and loudest from Lev telling everyone to stand the hell down.

Heat radiates from the floor and Flay
turns. She coughs once, releasing a small cloud of sparks and black smoke then
runs her tongue around her mouth and spits out a wad of flame.

“
That
’
s, um,
”
Soar watches as her
sticky spit burns itself out.