Autumn's Kiss

  “Ten?” Nixie’s eyes got impossibly wider. “But that’s... that’s impossible. No young Dragoon can survive a direct Varana attack.”

  "A Supreme can," Kirall told her. "Autumn was able to call her Dragon, and while it was able to protect her, it was too young to heal her."

  “That... that...”

  “Is something else we don’t want to be known right now. The Varana that attacked my Autumn still lives, and if he discovers she's alive, he may try again."

  “Let him,” Autumn hissed. “I’m not a child anymore. Terron will pay for what he did to my family.”

  “Terron? As in General Terron?” Nixie gasped.

  "Yes," Kirall confirmed. "Now you understand my need for keeping everyone in the dark. Only Dacke and Healer Talfrin, who I trust implicitly, know Autumn is a Supreme and that she can call her Dragon, which is beautiful by the way." His hand cupped Autumn's jaw tipping it up, so their gazes met as his thumb caressed her cheek. "The most beautiful one I've ever seen."

  "Really?" Autumn asked, and even Nixie could hear the doubt in the young female's voice and wondered what could be causing it.

  "Never doubt it, my love," Kirall growled then captured her lips for a kiss that left no doubt.

  Chapter Three

  Autumn tried to not let her nerves show as Kirall led her down another long corridor toward the room where the family’s evening meal would be served. She wore a simple, green gown that wasn’t hers. While Kirall’s eyes had flared with desire when he’d seen the way it hugged her figure, it didn’t change the fact that it was still a dress his sister had worn when she had been considered a child. And Autumn was anything but.

  Kirall, on the other hand, was dressed in clothing that had at one time been tailored to fit him perfectly but were now slightly tight. Black, form-fitting pants were tucked into dark, over-the-calf boots while a billowing white shirt covered his arms and chest and was tucked in at his waist. He hadn't bothered with tightening the shirt’s laces, exposing his muscular chest. He presented such an imposing figure that even her Dragon lifted her head and chuffed its appreciation.

  They never would have attended one of her family meals dressed like this. Those had always been light, casual events filled with laughter, love, and acceptance. Something she was sure this meal wouldn't have. At least not for her.

  She was the outsider here. The problem that needed to be resolved. Just like she’d been ever since she’d woken up in that hospital screaming about killer lizards.

  No, she wasn’t going to find love and acceptance here. At least not from Kirall’s family. Not even Nixie, who wasn’t really on Autumn’s side. She was just against Maaike.

  All heads turned, and conversations ceased as she and Kirall entered the room. It made her even more determined to not let them see how it affected her and she lifted her chin, silently challenging them.

  Kirall felt her fingers tighten on his arm as they stepped into the room and glancing down, saw her chin lift ever so slightly. That was his Autumn, his fearless little Supreme. He couldn't be prouder of her. Nothing had gone the way he had expected it to today. The way he had promised her it would. But still, she was at his side, proud and ready to meet his entire family for the first time in a borrowed gown.

  No female, especially a Dragoon one, would be willing to do that. The introduction of a mate to one's family was a significant event. He knew of females, like Maaike, who spent years having a unique gown designed and kept it in their closet for just this occasion. They would demand to be taken home to change into it before being presented to their mate’s family.

  Pulling his gaze from her, he let it travel around the room trying to see it through her eyes. It wasn't an overly large room. Not in comparison to some of the other rooms in the house. It had been carved by the original Black who’d claimed this mountain range as his eons ago. While time had softened the worst of the jagged claw marks, you could still see them if you looked at the ceiling. Later ancestors had added the woodwork and tapestries that filled the room.

  His mother and father stood beside the wide table that dominated the room. It could comfortably seat twelve but usually held no more than nine. It had been the table where they had all grown up. Where their family meals had been served. And where they talked about their lives, dreams, and concerns. It was slightly angled across the room so when sitting, everyone got at least a partial view of the open sky beyond the arched doorway. It led to the balcony that connected all the rooms on this floor.

  He frowned when he realized his parents were dressed in the formal attire they wore only for the most formal of Council events because his father hated wearing it. Standing not far from them was Maaike, wearing an intricate gown that displayed her many attributes, sipping a glass of wine. His brothers and sisters were scattered around the room, as they usually were, but dressed more in the way he expected for a family meal. Although they were all staring as if he had brought a never before seen species into their midst, and he realized he had.

  Putting a hand on the small of Autumn’s back, Kirall guided her to the closest group.

  “Autumn, these are my brothers Zeb, Jariath, and Radko.” Kirall gestured to each one as he said their name. “Brothers, this is my mate, Autumn.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Autumn said giving each one of them a small smile. She knew her mother would be upset if she didn’t at least make an attempt at being polite. Funny how even after her being gone for all these years, those lessons still stuck. “Kirall has told me a great deal about all of you.”

  “Really?” The taller of the three asked skeptically.

  “Really,” she replied. “It was a rather long trip so to fill in some of the time, Kirall told me stories about all the trouble his brothers would get into. Especially you, Zeb.” She saw Zeb’s eyes widen slightly at being singled out. “It seems you liked starting Nixie’s hair on fire... and it wasn’t always an accident.”

  “What?!!” Nixie demanded, hearing what Autumn said as she walked over to join them.

  “Now, Nixie.” Zeb raised a placating hand even as he tried not to smirk. “You know it’s quite common for a young Dragoon to have trouble controlling their fire at first. Even you did,” he reminded her. “I distinctly remember you torching that tapestry once during evening meal.” He gestured to the wall behind them and turning, Autumn saw that indeed the tapestry hanging there had black singe marks along the bottom.

  “That was the first time my fire ever appeared!” she told him angrily. “It never happened again. You, on the other hand, were nearly sixty before you gained full control of yours.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Autumn questioned quietly. She wasn’t sure why, but she was thoroughly enjoying teasing Zeb. She supposed it was because when Kirall told her about all the tricks Zeb played on his older sister, it reminded her of Jack.

  “What are you talking about?” Nixie demanded, her gaze going from Autumn to Kirall, who was fighting a smile, to Zeb who was doing his best to look innocent. “Are you saying you intentionally burnt my hair off? The Annual Ball was that night! It was my first time attending!”

  “No! No! Of course not.” Zeb took a step back as wisps of smoke began curling around his sister’s nose. “That time was an accident.”

  “That time,” Nixie snarled, her smoke starting to darken.

  "Is there a problem over here?" Niccele asked walking over, her gaze traveling from each of her children before settling on Autumn, leaving little doubt where she thought the problem was coming from.

  "No, Mother," Kirall spoke before anyone else could. "We were just reminiscing about some childhood antics." He gestured to the tapestry behind him.

  For a moment Niccele's expression softened, letting Autumn see it was a fond memory for Kirall's mother. But then she realized Autumn had noticed, and her face went expressionless. "I see. Well as everyone is finally here, the evening meal can be served."

  Kirall noticed the changes in his mother's exp
ression and for a moment thought she might be warming up to Autumn. But when it returned to the cool expression she'd greeted Autumn with, he guided his mate toward the table.

  "Autumn, these are my other two sisters, Ravannah and Aisling," he told her, stopping in front of them.

  Autumn's gaze traveled over them and while she knew they were a great deal older than her, they didn't look it. If they'd been on Earth, she would have sworn Aisling was her age while Ravannah couldn't be more than a few years older.

  "Hello," Autumn offered.

  "Hello," was all they said in return before turning to follow their mother to the table.

  “Father,” Kirall acknowledged him as he moved to his traditional spot as eldest son on the right-hand side of his father, who sat at the head of the table. He moved Autumn to his other side, and Nixie took the seat next to Autumn, giving Zeb a quelling look when it looked like he was going to protest. Kirall was grateful for that because he wasn’t sure Zeb wouldn’t try to stir up his usual brand of trouble sitting so close to Autumn. But then he glanced across the table and saw Maaike had quickly taken Nixie’s traditional spot, next to their mother, which was directly across from Autumn.

  Once everyone was in their place, his father moved and pulled out his mother’s chair so she could sit. Once that was done, every male at the table did the same for the female beside them. It was the type of etiquette Kirall’s parents had drilled into their children from the time they were able to sit at the table. Although it was usually only used when guests were present.

  As Autumn sat, Kirall caught the little smile that crossed her lips before it was gone. Wondering what had caused it, he looked up and saw that no one had gone to assist Maaike. Ravannah had taken the seat next to Maaike with Jariath and Aisling taking the last two chairs on that side of the table. Jariath had helped both his sisters before taking his own seat, not noticing that Maaike was still standing.

  Maaike stood there looking at Kirall as if she expected him to leave his mate to come to her aid. Making sure he retained eye contact, Kirall pulled out his own chair and sat down.

  “Kiran,” Niccele murmured quietly to her own mate who was just about to sit. Kiran frowned at her for a moment then seeing Maaike standing there in a huff, realized what the problem was.

  “My apologies, Maaike,” he said, moving to pull out her chair. “I meant no offense.”

  “Of course you didn’t, Elder Kiran,” she said giving him what she hoped was an empathetic smile. “You have always been a gracious and courteous host. I completely understand how unsettling today’s...events must have been for you. For both of you.” Her gaze went to Niccele for a moment before zeroing in on Autumn. “Hopefully the cause of those events can be explained and rectified expediently before word of this gets out.”

  “I...” Kiran and Niccele could only look at Maaike, surprised that she was acting as if she should be included in what was happening here.

  “Rectified expediently?” Autumn hissed coldly, her gaze going to the woman. “Did you just threaten me, Maaike?"

  “Autumn...” Kirall put a hand on her arm, hoping to calm her before things got out of control.

  “As if I would bother,” Maaike sneered. “You are nothing but some little Minor who is trying to become part of the most prestigious and powerful Prime family on Mondu.”

  “Maaike.” It was Kiran’s turn to try and stop the growing argument between the two females.

  “No, that would be what you are trying to do.” Autumn rose, leaning over the table, her Dragon demanding she challenge this female that wanted their mate. “Through Kirall. But he is my mate!”

  “How dare you?!!” Maaike rose, imitating Autumn’s stance, ignoring the way her Dragon was screaming at her to submit. “I was born a Prime Dragoon."

  "And I was born a..."

  "Autumn! Enough!” Kirall roared, cutting off what she was about to say as he surged to his feet, yanking her away from Maaike. "Sit down and be quiet!"

  Autumn didn’t notice how silent the room had become. Didn't notice how everyone was looking at Kirall in disbelief. No, she was too busy staring at her mate in shock. Unable to believe he had spoken to her like that. He was her mate. He was supposed to be standing up and defending her. Not Maaike. Hurt beyond words, she jerked her arm out of his grasp and shoving her chair out of the way, stormed out of the room.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Autumn..." Kirall called out, but she kept right on going, and both his Beast and Dragon were demanding he go after her. Kur, he hadn't meant to speak so harshly to her. But he couldn't let her announce to everyone that she was a Supreme, especially with Maaike here. No one else could know. At least not until he talked to his father. But by the hurt that had filled his mate's eyes, he could tell she'd misunderstood his actions and thought he wasn't standing up for her. His mate had been through so much since the death of her family. She'd been left alone. Alone and confused. He'd told her that would never happen again, that he'd be there for her always. And he'd already failed her.

  “Thank you, Kirall.” Maaike gave him a watery smile that held just a hint of smugness.

  "It had nothing to do with you!" Kirall growled, his head snapping around to glare at her.

  Maaike gasped and fell back into her chair when Kirall’s face began to elongate as he moved toward her, his Dragon enraged at the harm this female had caused his mate.

  "Kirall!"

  Kirall’s gaze shifted to his father. Where usually the unspoken order from an older, more powerful Prime would have had Kirall’s Dragon instantly obeying, whether he wanted to or not, it didn't this time. This time Kirall actually growled back at his father because now Kirall was a Supreme, and no one controlled his Dragon but him... and his mate.

  His mate.

  His incredible, beautiful mate who was alone and hurting.

  He had to correct this. Using all the control he’d learned over the centuries, he pulled his Dragon back, promising him they would go find their mate soon.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Kiran sucked in a shocked breath when his son’s Dragon growled at him. This was not the same Dragon he had always known and raised. No, that Dragon looked at him with gold rimmed eyes and scales of black with black laminae. He so closely resembled Kiran that there were times they were mistaken for each other.

  The Dragon looking at him now had silver running through his dark gaze, and the scales that had started to appear had red in them along with... No, that wasn’t possible... Then Kirall shifted back to his Other form, and Kiran’s son stood in front of him again. A son Kiran suddenly realized was larger than him in size, and the power he exuded was to the point Kiran’s own Dragon was noticing.

  “Father, we need to talk.”

  “I can see that. Come, we’ll go to my study.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Autumn ran along the balcony until her hips hit the railing at the far end. Her chest was heaving, and tears streamed down her face. God! Why had Kirall brought her here to this strange planet and these people? She wanted to go home.

  "Then let’s go."

  "What?" Autumn spun around, but there was no one there.

  "Let's. Go. Home."

  "Home?" Suddenly she realized her Dragon was talking to her and exactly where she wanted them to go and whispered, "To Kruba."

  "Yes..."

  "But we don't know where it is."

  "Yes, we do. Can't you feel it?"

  Autumn's gaze went to the mountain range in the distance where a silver moon illuminated its highest peak. "There."

  "Yes."

  "Can we make it?"

  "Of course. We are Supremes."

  Autumn closed her eyes. She'd never knowingly let her Dragon out before. Her partial shift defending her brother, and the full one when she believed Kirall was in danger had both been instinctive. Could she shift now?

  Kirall had told her she could do it. He had promised that it would come naturally and there was nothing to
be afraid of. He'd also promised he would be at her side the first time she tried, but he wasn't here. She was alone. Just as she'd been ever since her family's death.

  "You're not alone. I'm here. And neither of us will ever be alone again."

  Autumn realized her Dragon was right. She might love Kirall, but it was time for her to discover who she truly was. To trust in herself and in her Dragon. "Let’s go home."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "What in the name of Kur is going on?" Kiran demanded as he closed the door to his study. They hadn't spoken since they'd left the stunned dining room, but Kiran was sure pandemonium had erupted after they left. His Niccele had seen the difference in their son's shift too. "What's happened to you?"

  "I told you, Father. I found my mate."

  "She can't be your mate if her laminae haven't changed color!" Kiran argued moving around his desk.

  "Yes, she can. And hers doesn't need to. Mine does, and it has." Reaching back, Kirall removed the sleeve he had made sure covered all the changes in his hair and laminae. Shaking his hair free, he turned and revealed it to his father.

  "But that... that can't be," Kiran gasped, groping behind him for his chair as he took in his son's new appearance. The solid black hair that declared him Black Prime, now blended with the red of the female, he claimed as his mate, starting at his ears before it turned completely red and ended at his now silver laminae.

  "You know it can."

  "Only if she were a..."

  "Supreme. Yes. My mate, my Autumn, is a Supreme. One of Razeth's."

  Kiran was glad he'd already found his chair as his knees buckled beneath him. He had spent centuries studying all the available texts, had investigated every rumor, no matter how implausible, as to where Razeth could have gone in the hope that he or one of his descendants could be found. Few had noticed it, and those that did refused to believe it was happening, but the magic that allowed Dragoons to shift was slowly fading. It had been ever since Razeth, the last Supreme, had left. If one of them had returned...

  "She is a Supreme?"