Chapter One

I sighed and laid in the grass, my eyes closed as I enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the light golden and warm behind my eyelids, flushing my skin as I breathed deeply. The air was cool this high into the mountains, the scents sharp with the tinge of snow, the peaks closer than I had trekked before. I thought perhaps the higher up I was that it would be easier to get in tune with my dragon. So far it was not successful. I felt the different power just under my skin but so far I was unable to call it forward and shift. It was frustrating, considering it had been 2 weeks since I had felt the power unlock inside of me.

“Still no luck, little one?” Brodryn asked as I felt him sit beside me. I smiled still with my eyes closed and shook my head as I lifted my hands into the air and stretched. I lifted myself up and rested on my elbows, my hair falling behind me and blowing in the breeze. I looked at Brodryn and smiled at him as he sat beside me, his hands rested on his knees as he looked at me.

“No luck as of yet. I can feel the magic getting stronger, I just can’t access it fully. It's becoming increasingly frustrating.” I chuckled as Brodryn grumbled as his hair kept getting whipped around in the breeze. I sat up all the way and moved so I was kneeling behind him and combing my fingers through his long hair before I started to plait it back in a really long braid.

“You’ll get there soon, little one. You’ve made amazing progress and I’m sure with a little more time and training that you will have mastery of it. You’ve been doing incredible for someone who was never raised with their dragon.” He assured me as he closed his eyes, a soft smile on his face as I braided his hair. I took the tie off his wrist and used it to secure his braid, patting his shoulder once before I moved to sit back beside him. He put his arm around me as I gave a small shiver from the cool wind and pulled me close to him, my head resting on his shoulder.

“I know, but still I wish I was doing better than I am now.” I huffed as I smoothed the dirt off my gold and green dress, the halter-style silk clinging to my frame. I pulled my robe from the grass beside me and put it on to combat the chill further.

“You’ll get there when you and the dragon inside you are ready. But I came here today because I have something for you. My mother was able to find the perfect shade of emerald to make your ring for Cadmus.” He stated with a smile as he held out a small green velvet ring box to me. 

I took it with a deep breath and ran my fingers over to soft velvet before opening it and gasping. It was cut from a solid piece of deep emerald green that perfectly matched the shade of my eyes. It was a thicker round ring and it was beautiful. I took it out and let the box rest in my lap as I ran my fingers over the gemstone, impressed with the clarity of it. It was perfect.

“It’s beautiful. I almost want one for myself. Do you think he’ll like it?” I asked as I tucked the ring back into the box and put it in the pocket of my robe. 

“He’ll love it because it comes from you.  Have time for lunch today or did you have other plans?” Brodryn asked as he held me to his side. I sigh softly and nod against his shoulder.

“I have other plans, yeah. I’ve been avoiding talking to Silas the last two weeks, just been leaving messages for him with Varin or Gram and Gigi or speaking with Laris only. It’s cowardly. So I said I'd call him and we’d actually have a discussion. I’m just not sure how to explain this to him without telling him exactly who I am.” I pull away and stand, both of us making our way down the mountain, my smaller hand held in his much larger one.

“Perhaps that’s a conversation that’s best had in person. For now, keep things superficial. It’s Friday, you go back home on Monday with Magnus and you can tell him then. Call everyone involved together with your pack and fill them in on all the developments.” He offered as he put his hands on my waist and lifted me over a jagged patch of rocks before placing me down on the ground beside him again.

“Yea I can do that, it would probably be for the best. I’m just dreading all of the fallout you know. I still feel the pull of the mate bond and my fear is that he will be all understanding and open to the idea and won't want me to break the bond but then I can’t...fully mate with him. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be with him sexually, but I can not allow myself to receive his mate mark because that’s a final bond that can only be broken by death. Much more...heavy than the marriage between Cadmus and I.” I run my hand over my face and look up at Brodryn briefly before focusing on the path in front of me, wrinkling my nose as my toes step on a wet slimy leaf.

“With Cadmus, I at least know what to expect from him. He’s not expecting anything from me and is content to let me set the pace. Silas, on the other hand, is very much expecting things from me. It’s just a lot and I’m unsure how to go about it. Going back home I’ll be hit with the full force of the bond and the unease and stress that comes from being away from your mate and I’m worried that being bombarded with all those emotions will make me do something rash.”

“I did not realize the Mate Bond for wolves was such a troublesome concept.” Brodryn mused and he looked down at me with a barely contained smile as I flung my foot around to get the soggy leaves off, having stepped in a puddle. He wrapped his arms around me and held me to his chest bridle style as his wings came out of his back and he flew us down the path much quicker than if we would have walked all the way down.

“I’m sure they’re not so troublesome for someone who is genuinely happy to have their mate. For me, I’m just so conflicted about the whole thing because of who my fated mate is.” 

I sighed and rested my head against his bare chest, relaxing in his arms and enjoying the warmth of his body as he flies, landing in his open room, his stained glass shades of black, grey and white, his bed a solid piece of obsidian and his sheets a stark white against it. I loved his room, obsidian being one of my favourite gems. He let me down gently on his bed and then disappeared into his bathroom before coming back with a towel and wiping the mud and leaves from my foot, making sure it was fully clean before sitting down beside me.

“Well, I empathize, little one. Since you have other plans I will see to my other business then.” he said softly with a smile. I nodded and stood up waving softly before leaving his room and heading out into the hall, moving in the direction of my own.

In the 2 weeks that I had been here, I had become closer to each of the brothers, forming a relationship of sorts with each of them. Cadmus and I would spend time together every evening for either dinner or just coffee and dessert. He would explain the role of King and Queen to me and let me know what was expected of us, of me as Queen. He was very patient and caring with me, forever letting me set the pace and boundaries of our time together. It was a lot of information and he was understanding of my need to revisit certain topics so I could understand them better.

Brodryn and I would often have lunch together, a picnic as we hiked or explored the island. He’d explain the custom and the history of the island and its people, give me an idea of the things I needed to know about it for my position as Queen. I often called him professor as he spoke like he was giving a lecture but I very much enjoyed our time together.

Magnus was who I saw most often, he would try to teach me to access my magic and just spend time with me. I had been feeling more and more drawn to him the more time we spent together. It was strange to know that all 4 of them had an interest in me and were willing to let me set the pace and decide. So far it has been nothing more than flirting and the odd affectionate touch. Blaze being the biggest flirt of them all. He makes me flustered with how open and self-assured he is.

Because Silas and I recognize each other as mates, I refuse to do anything with the brothers, knowing that Silas will feel if anything happens. I would never want that to happen to me so I won’t ever do that to anyone. Until he’s fully aware of the situation and what it means, being physically intimate is off the table. Besides, the sexual tension is enough to make anyone overwhelmed.