"But..."
"But what, Autumn?" Kirall asked when her confused gaze turned to him.
"You said that the Supreme mates and offspring were attacked by Dragoons and Others alike out of jealousy and spite. But if the Others were related to the Supremes... Why would they plot against their own family?"
"Because a Dragoon's lifespan and that of their Other mate greatly exceeds that of any unmated Other," Kiran told her. "Some were content with that, but some... not so much."
"They became resentful because they weren't chosen as a Dragoon Mate."
"Yes."
"So then why are there Others approaching Kruba?" Autumn asked. "None of them are related to me."
"We didn't see any Others," Kiran said looking to Niccele who nodded her agreement.
"They were a great distance behind you, but they were definitely heading this way," Autumn told them.
"You can sense them?" Niccele asked. "That far outside your boundary?"
"Yes," Autumn said giving them a perplexed look. "I thought all Dragoons could sense those approaching their boundary."
"We can, but not at the distance you are able to."
"Kirall," Kiran looked to his son. "You said you were able to sense the location of everyone within my Lair."
"Yes. It’s how I knew Autumn had left." The look he gave her let her know he was still unhappy about that. It grew when she just shrugged.
"Can you sense the Others approaching?" Kiran asked drawing his son's attention back to him.
Kirall closed his eyes for a moment tapping into the power of Kruba and felt the ripple. "Yes, not as easily as Autumn at that distance, but if I concentrate I can."
"That's all great," Autumn said dismissively, "but why are those Others approaching and more importantly what do we do about it?"
"They heard the call," Niccele whispered.
"Heard what call?" Autumn and Kirall said together their gazes flashing to Niccele.
"It was a tale told by the Others who were forced to leave the mountains when their Supremes either died or left."
"Left?" Autumn asked. "What do you mean left? I thought Razeth was the last Supreme. That he was the only one that left."
"He was the only one that left an empowered Lair behind. The others just disappeared, one by one, some promising their Others that they would 'Hear the Call' when they returned.”
"So that means there are other Supremes out there," Autumn didn't try to hide her shock.
"Anything is possible, but after all this time it’s doubtful," Kiran said regretfully.
"Why?" Autumn questioned.
"Because a Dragoon needs a Hoard to survive and no Dragoon has ever been able to empower one except on Mondu," Kiran explained.
"Razeth empowered a Hoard on Earth," Autumn told them.
"What?!!" Three sets of shocked eyes stared at her.
"Autumn, you never told me that," Kirall said.
"I didn't know it was important."
"How can you possibly know?" Kiran demanded.
"Because Jaclyn told me."
"Jaclyn?" Niccele asked.
"Razeth's mate," Autumn informed her.
"How could you have possibly met her?" Kiran demanded.
"Dad, Autumn met both Razeth and Jaclyn when she was in the world between worlds."
"The world between worlds... oh, Autumn..." Autumn was shocked to find herself wrapped in Niccele's tight embrace, the honest dismay easily heard in her voice. "We nearly lost you before we ever knew you."
"I'm okay, Lady Niccele," Autumn forced out of a suddenly tight throat. "Kirall made sure of it."
"As a good mate should," Niccele said pulling back, her gaze traveling over Autumn as if checking for injuries. "And please call me Niccele. You are my son's mate, and while I know we didn't get off on the right foot, I hope that one day we can be friends."
"I would like that very much, Niccele."
"You said you nearly lost her," Kiran's gaze remained on the females as he spoke to his son.
"Yes, the Earth Curator poisoned her in the hopes of covering up his misdeeds."
"But poisons don't affect Dragoons," Kiran said.
"Well they affect me," Autumn told him.
"Really?" Kiran frowned at her for a moment. "I wonder why."
"Could it be her human side?" Niccele asked.
"It wasn't my human side that was affected," she told Niccele. "It was my Dragon."
"Was this before or after your first shift?" Kiran asked.
"Both," Autumn told Kiran.
"But, Autumn, you had yet to accept your Dragon," Kirall reminded her. "Maybe that's why."
"Maybe, but back to the more immediate question. Why are there Others approaching Kruba and what are we going to do about it?"
"First," Kiran said, "they are approaching because the Dragoon blood in them remains strong. It calls them home."
"But I don't know them. They don't know me."
"That doesn't matter. They will want to serve their Dragoon. Will want to be protected again."
Kirall turned her to face him then asked. "Why is that bothering you so much, Autumn?"
"Because if past Others were willing to betray the Keepers they knew, what's to stop these Others from doing it to us? I know we just arrived here, and it’s selfish of me, but for the first time since my family died I feel safe, and I don't want it to end."
"Then it won't."
"But those approaching..."
"Don't matter. You and your needs will always come first, Autumn."
"If you would like," Niccele quietly said, "we could inform them to return to the lowlands when we leave."
"Leave? What do you mean? Why would you leave?" Autumn’s questions were rapidly fired. "You just got here."
"Oh, my dear, you have no idea what it means to me that you would want us to stay after the way I greeted you. But you are newly mated and just discovering your Lair. You need time alone."
Autumn looked to Kirall. Yes, she wanted to be alone with him, but there was also still so much she didn't know. Yes, Kur had helped her as had Kruba, but still, there were things only another woman... female could tell her. One familiar with the ways of the Dragoon.
Kirall gazed into his mate's eyes and saw so much. She wanted to be alone with him, wanted the rest of the world to go away, if only for a time. But she also wanted to spend time with his parents. Wished to learn from them even after the way they initially greeted her as his mother acknowledged. He would love it if his parents left. Then he could get his mate naked and begin the attempt of making love to her in every room in their Lair. But he'd just gotten done saying that her needs would always come first and right now she needed his parents.
"Mother. Father. Please stay," he implored. "We need you, and you haven't even tasted your wine. Actually, neither have we, but I can't believe Kruba would ever serve anything you didn't like."
Niccele looked to Kiran who picked up a goblet and held it out to her. "It is up to you, my love, but it seems we are needed here, and I know how much you like to be needed."
"I do," she said rising to move back toward her mate. "But what about the approaching Others?"
"Let me attempt something," Kirall said and closing his eyes sent out an order for the Others to return to their homes. He didn't know if it would work. Didn't know why he believed he could do this but was determined to try and was surprised when he felt the Others start to turn away. Opening his eyes, he smiled. "They are returning to their homes."
"That is amazing," Niccele began taking the goblet her mate held out to her, only to let out a little shriek when he pulled her into his lap.
"Not as amazing as I am," Kiran growled.
"Do you now understand why I wanted my own Lair as soon as possible?" Kirall whispered shaking his head as his parents began to kiss. Leaning forward, he picked up their two goblets.
Autumn smirked at Kirall's discomfort as his parents lost themselves in each other. Impressed that his moth
er hadn't spilled a drop of her wine. "I think it's cute. And comforting."
"Comforting?" he asked, handing her a goblet before leaning back to put an arm around her shoulders and pull her close.
"Yes." She snuggled into his embrace not surprised to find she liked the wine she was sipping. "Because one day, that will be us, making our offspring uncomfortable."
Kirall felt his heart begin to pound and fire burned his throat at the future she envisioned for them because he could see it, he wanted it, and so did his Beast and Dragon.
"Yes!" he growled as his lips captured hers in a scorching kiss.
"Offspring?!!" Niccele shrieked.
"What?" Autumn jerked her mouth from Kirall's at Niccele's shrieking exclamation. It was the only thing that could have penetrated the lust that had filled her at her mate's growling domination.
"You are with offspring?" Niccele questioned, her eyes full of hope.
"No! I mean of course not. I can't be." She looked to Kirall uncertainty filling her eyes. "Could I? I mean I would know. Wouldn't I?"
"Mother?" Kirall gave her a desperately hopeful look.
At Kirall's desperation and Autumn’s uncertainty, Niccele realized what she had just done. "Oh, Autumn, again I owe you the greatest of apologies. I should have realized you wouldn't know."
"Know what?" Her hand that was not holding the goblet went to cover her flat stomach.
"That your Dragon will always tell you when you are with offspring. She will sense it almost immediately and wrap herself around it, protecting it."
"Oh... she hasn't said anything." Autumn couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Don't worry, dear, it will happen. I'm just an old Dragoon that's impatient for her offspring to have offspring I can spoil. You are newly mated, so enjoy this time when it is just the two of you because once Kur blesses you with offspring..." Niccele just shook her head. "Well, you can never just be... spontaneous with your mate again."
"It never stopped you and Father," Kirall grumbled.
"You would be surprised." This time it was Kiran who grumbled. "Or how many times you get interrupted."
"Oh shush." Niccele slapped her mate's arm playfully.
"And you never spoiled us," Kirall said but looked at his father and suddenly understood why he acted the way he did with his mother because Kirall knew he would always act this way with Autumn.
Kiran met his son's gaze and a deeper understanding passed between them that only a father and son could share as mated males.
"Of course not," Niccele said unaware of the silent exchange between the men in her life. "There were too many of you for me to do that. But your offspring... I can't wait to wrap my claws around them and take them flying."
"You..." Autumn looked from Kirall to Niccele in growing horror. "You actually do that with your children... offspring?"
"Of course," Niccele told her frowning slightly. "How else are we to take them places before they are able to fly on their own?"
"I... I just assumed you used a transport like the one Kirall and I arrived on."
"Well, we did once we had more offspring than the two of us could carry."
"It really is quite safe, Autumn," Kirall reassured her. "But in all honesty, it didn't happen as often as Mother is implying."
"It didn't?"
"No, we rarely passed through our boundary. It is just a way for young Dragoons to learn how to navigate on the powerful air currents around the Lair before their first solo flight."
"So it’s a little like a parent holding their child's hands as they learn to walk, before letting go so they can do it on their own."
"Yes."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
It was later that evening, after exploring more of Kruba and consuming a delicious meal, that the two couples retreated to a small balcony on the backside of the Lair. It was protected from the mountain's swirling air currents so they could watch as the fading embers of Mondu's sun licked their way across the vast expanse that ran from the base of Kruba's mountain range to a barely visible range in the distance.
"So there are Dragoons living on that range?" Autumn asked leaning back into her mate's arms.
"Yes, Minors have Lairs on every peak," Kirall told her.
"Only Minors?"
"Yes, no Prime would ever claim such a low peak.”
"So besides a Dragoon’s color and that of their laminae, the level of one's Lair also reflects your social status?"
"Yes, because while a higher Lair is easier to protect, it is also harder to empower."
"It’s hard to believe that there are enough peaks on Mondu for every Dragoon to have a Lair."
"Umm, Autumn..."
"Yes?" She looked to Kirall.
"While Mondu is extremely mountainous compared to Earth, there aren't nearly enough peaks for every Dragoon to have their own."
"Then where do they live?"
"Most Dragoons, especially Minors, share a mountain with the most powerful one claiming the peak. The rest claim smaller Lairs below."
"But we've claimed this entire mountain!"
"Yes, but originally Razeth claimed the entire range," Kiran told her. “With your return, the Primes that have claimed some of those peaks will be forced to relinquish them.”
"Seriously?!! How is that fair? Those Dragoons have made their homes there, raised their offspring there. I’ve just arrived, and we don’t need an entire mountain range.” She looked to Kirall, expecting to see he agreed with her. Instead, he gave her a regretful look.
“Autumn, when it comes to the extent of a Dragoon’s territory, there is little that is fair. It's all connected to the power of his Hoard. Now that we’ve re-empowered Kruba’s, it will expand, claiming all the territory it deems necessary to protect its Keeper.”
“And there’s no way we can stop it?”
“No, and even if there was, I wouldn’t. You are my mate and your protection is all that matters to me.”
“But those Dragoons have lived there for generations.”
“And now they will live somewhere else as they did when Razeth was here.”
“I still don’t think it’s right.”
“That’s because you have a kind heart,” Kirall murmured against her lips.
“You do, Autumn,” Niccele told her pulling Autumn’s gaze. “That is why you need to let Kirall and Kruba protect you. You are going to need it.”
“Need it?” Autumn asked. “What are you talking about?”
“Niccele...” Kiran growled.
“She is our son’s mate. She has the right to know.”
“Know?” Kirall growled this time. “Know what?!!”
Kiran sighed heavily, looking at the darkened landscape then gestured to the doors behind them. “Perhaps we should go inside. There are things you need to know.”
Chapter Eight
“Tell me,” Kirall demanded of his father once they were back inside.
“I was contacted this sunrise by Elder Tove."
"Maaike's father?" Autumn asked.
"Yes. It seems Maaike was quite distraught last night and contacted him about Autumn's arrival."
"Contacted?" Autumn frowned at Kiran, suddenly realizing she'd never asked how Dragoons communicated. When they'd been on the Inferno, Kirall had sent a transmission to his father informing him of their arrival. She'd gone with him to a small room that reminded her of something you'd see on a ship. She hadn't seen anything like that in his parents’ Lair. She hadn't seen one in Kruba either. "How was she able to do that?"
"Communicate with her father?" Kiran asked.
"Yes, is there a room or something?"
Kiran frowned down at her in confusion. "All blood kin can communicate through that bond. Weren't you aware of that?"
"Why would I be?" Autumn asked stiffly, suddenly feeling like an outsider again. "I have no blood kin here. I don't have them anywhere."
"That's a lie. I'm your blood kin now." Kirall wrapped her up in his arms before low
ering his forehead to hers and whispering, "I'm sorry, my love. I didn't realize this was something you didn't know. The bond occurs at birth. It's something we don't even think about."
Autumn sank into Kirall's embrace, the absolute truth in his words soothing her even while it made her realize in many ways she would always be an outsider on Mondu. Supreme or not.
"Autumn?" Kirall frowned down at her, feeling her pain but not understanding it.
"So Maaike told her father Kirall was mated. Not to her, but to some unknown female that she believed to be a Minor." She pulled out of Kirall's arms not wanting to talk about it right now.
Kiran looked at Kirall for a moment before he spoke. "Yes, and Tove then contacted Lando who in turn summoned Dacke. Dacke informed Lando that Autumn was a Supreme."
"Kur!" Kirall swore.
"Why would Dacke do that?" Autumn couldn't believe it. She and Dacke had met while traveling on the Inferno, and she'd thought they were friends.
"He wouldn't have had any choice, Autumn," Kirall told her. "Lando is the Elder of the White Minors and the most powerful of them. Dacke would have been forced to reveal what he knew or been crushed."
"You're not talking literally, right? He wouldn't have actually been crushed."
"He would have if Lando chose to."
"That is so wrong."
"Yes, there are those that abuse their power. Lando is one of them."
"Is Dacke okay?" she asked looking at Kiran.
"It is my understanding that he held out as long as he could, but in the end, he was brought to his knees before finally revealing what he knew about you. Lando immediately contacted Tove."
"Contacted? How? Tove is a Gold Prime so he can't be blood kin to a White Minor. Did he fly to tell Tove?"
"No, Tove was in his Lair. Lando communicated with him through a relay jewel."
"A relay jewel?"
Kiran reached inside his tunic and pulled out the long chain he wore around his neck until a large, black, teardrop jewel appeared. "This is my relay jewel. It is the jewel I chose to use to communicate across long distances with those not blood kin."
Autumn frowned at the jewel then looked to Kirall. "I've never seen you wear one."
"No you haven't, but that's because I left it in my Lair when I went to assist the Terceirians." Kur, that felt like a lifetime ago to him. "I haven't had the opportunity to retrieve it."