Bonds of a Dragon (Book 3 of the Northern Territories Series)

Chapter 6

Bonds of a Dragon

Chapter 6

Ilayda’s POV

“Ormr just linked, Donovan is here.”, Anavrin says softly. I finish the plant I’m working on then stand setting the pruners and basket on the table by Apep and Ormr. I know Apep is aware of Donovan by the way his jaw clenched.

Donovan opens the greenhouse door and I return his smile. “Donovan, this is Apep. Apep, this is Donovan Crouse.”, I introduce them, staying out of Donovan's reach so he doesn’t touch me out of habit.

Donovan offers his hand to Apep, surprise crosses his face briefly. Ormr smirks, first at Donovan then at Apep. Apep stands and accepts Donovan's hand. I can’t help but see differences between them. Apep is about half a foot taller than Donovan. Donovan has a lean toned build, Apep is also lean but much larger. Donovan has porcelain skin, clean shaven, blonde hair, and hazelnut eyes. Apep looks even more tan in front of him, dark hair and an extended goatee, with eyes like flame. Apep releases Donovan’s hand and sits back down beside Ormr. Ormr accepts Donovan’s hand without standing and gestures for him to sit on the other side of him, keeping himself between Apep and Donovan. I lock eyes with Apep as I accept my pruners and basket back from him.

He responds to my questioning gaze, “I will keep my word, Aziza.” I nod to him and return to Anavrin. I can hear Ormr talking to Apep and Donovan, keeping the conversation neutral. Apep’s responses are short as he analyzes Donovan. We’ve made it through the first stand and are giving Ormr the baskets to lay out on the drying table. Donovan and Apep help Ormr. We take another set of baskets and move to the next stand. I’m pleased that Donovan has not addressed Apep directly, he can probably sense he is irritable, though Apep has taken no action that would indicate he was.

“Do you frequent this area, Apep?”, Donovan asks.

I hold my breath waiting for Apep to respond, hoping he doesn’t if he is going to get ugly. “No, I haven’t been here but a handful of times in my life. It’s hot and humid 10 months out of the year here.”, Apep replies plainly.

Donovan smiles, Ormr studies him. “Are you Apep the Annihilator?”, Donovan asks.

Apep tilts his head at Donovan. “If I am?”, Apep asks turning fully toward Donovan. Apep didn’t appear aggressive to me, but Ormr was leaning back on the table, now sits up to partially block Donovan from Apep.

“I researched some last night. I found quite a bit about Apep the Annihilator. There was a little more on an Apep of Chaos, but I know you often have similar names, variations of Dragon.” Apep appears to lose interest, realizing Donovan has no actual knowledge of him.

“Yes, he is one and the same. Apep the Annihilator and of Chaos.”, Ormr answers for him. Apep glances at Ormr and turns, leaning back against the table again. Ormr leans back as well and starts talking to Donovan. Anavrin grins at me with widened eyes before turning to the next plant.

Several more baskets and we have finished. Anavrin gathers some fresh herbs in canisters and leaves the rest on the drying table. We have lunch on the porch and I talk to Donovan about the search at Brecken Forest.

Apep speaks to Ormr in Draconic, I can see the interest in Donovan’s eyes. He speaks it somewhat, but not as fluently and Tania, Kara, and Anavrin.

Rayne, Jayce, and Clay cross the yard. They've come to train with Ormr. “Apep, would you spar Ormr? We would like to observe.”, Clay asks.

Ormr smirks at Apep and taunts something in Draconic. Apep smirks and stands, jumping from the porch and following Ormr out into the yard. Ormr says, “No shifting.”, and waves his shirt away. Apep does the same, his muscles on full display under the sun. Their eyes start to glow as Ormr moves to circle Apep. It appears he is going to let him make a full pass, suddenly Apep turns and attacks Ormr. He struggles to stay out of Apep’s grasp, throwing punches and kicks in attempt to back him up. Apep is fast and strong, he doesn’t let Ormr draw back enough to get his weight behind his hit. The first round ends with Apep pinning Ormr. The second, Ormr pins Apep. The 3rd ends with Apep, again pinning Ormr. Ormr rolls from Apep and pretends to be dead on the ground. He says something to Apep in Draconic. Apep laughs and stands, offering his hand to Ormr. Ormr accepts and punches Apep hard in the ribs, Apep kicks him back down on the ground, saying something to him in mock anger.

Ormr stands again laughing, reaching his hand out to shake Apep's. Apep slaps his hand away, smirking and saying something else to him. Ormr laughs harder than I think I’ve ever seen him laugh.

Clay says, “I think the 3 of us can take you 2.”

Ormr turns, “Not a chance lycan, but we’ll let you try.”

Clay laughs, he and the twins jump off the porch, pulling their shirts off and joining Apep and Ormr in the yard.

“Who do you think will win?”, Donovan asks me.

“Ormr and Apep are faster and stronger. They’re outnumbered though. I guess it depends on how well Apep and Ormr fight together.”, I reply.

Donovan and I continue discussing their fighting styles as we watch the lycan circle the dragonian, they’ve learned from Apep’s fight with Ormr not to circle too closely. Apep has quite a reach. It’s a blur of movement out there with the 5 men fighting for dominance. Apep and Ormr move well together, blocking the other’s back, it isn’t long before they have the lycan boxed in. Rayne taps to Apep and moves back to the porch.

“He has a grip like a damn snake.”, he says dropping on the porch and taking the water Anavrin offers him. Clay and Jayce don’t last long without Rayne keeping them from locking onto them. Ormr and Apep release them.

“Another round?”, Jayce asks.

Apep replies, “I need a drink, you wolves are heavier than you look.” The lycan laugh.

Ormr calls, “We can do one on one. Apep or I will coach whichever one of you is fighting.” The lycan agree and they all get water bottles.

Apep takes first against Clay. “Whatever you do, don’t let him grab you. You’ll lose.”, Ormr warns Clay.

Ormr dances around the fight calling things out to Clay. Apep fakes back and Clay attacks. Ormr yells for Clay to stop, but it’s too late. Apep grabs Clay and yanks him in, they roll across the ground and Apep’s grip only tightens around him. Clay thrashes for a second and taps. Apep releases him.

Clay turns to Ormr as he stands, “I heard you, but didn’t pull back fast enough.”

Jayce hops up to go for Ormr. Apep takes his water and walks around them, watching their movements and telling Jayce when to move in or fall back. Jayce picks up on the commands faster than Clay did. “Go go go go!”, Apep yells at Jayce when Ormr slides on the wet grass.

Jayce tackles Ormr and they roll across the ground, “Bring your leg up, don’t let him wrap you!”, Apep calls to Jayce.

Jayce brings his leg up and flips, pulling Ormr beneath him. We thought Jayce finally got Ormr when Ormr suddenly twists and pulls back, “Get out, get out!”, Apep yells at Jayce.

He tries to pull back and get away from Ormr, but Ormr wraps around him and begins tightening his grip. “You’re not getting out of that wolf, it was close though.”, Apep laughs and finishes his water.

Jayce slams his fist on the ground when Ormr releases him. “I almost f*****g had your ass that time!”, he yells playfully at Ormr.

Ormr laughs. Rayne picks Ormr, deciding Apep is the better coach. Apep circles, coaching Rayne. Donovan turns to face me. “Are you going to train with him, babe?”, he asks.

I nod, “Yes. I’ll let them wear him down first.”, I reply. Anavrin and Donovan both laugh.

Donovan tells Anavrin and I about researchers’ meeting to go out and study mermaids. Anavrin has more interest in that than I do, she has read hundreds of studies and guides. I listen to their conversation and watch Rayne and Ormr. Rayne taps and Ormr releases him. He held on for a good while.

“You’re up, Aziza.”, Apep calls me to him.

“I’m not fighting you in flip flops, stalker.”, I call back to him. He approaches me, conjuring shorts, a sports bra, socks and running shoes almost identical to one of the sets I wore in the forest. I lean forward to accept them from him and go inside to change. I fold my clothes and set them in my seat before hopping off the porch.

Apep waits for me to reach him. “Is this when you perform for me, Aziza?”, he asks softly before stepping back and positioning.

I try to mask the reaction my body has to him and I attack him hard and fast, using my much smaller size to maneuver around him. Apep dodges and turns, I can’t match his speed, but my turns are much faster so I’m able to hit him several times.

“Fight back, stalker. I can do this with a bag.” He chuckles and starts swatting and pushing me just enough to get my attention or throw me off balance without hurting me. He grabs me and yanks me to him if I’m not fast enough to get away. He never attempts to drain me which, despite his word, still scares me each time. He doesn’t crush me the way he did the lycan either. He holds me firmly then releases me. He coaches as we spar, telling me where I went wrong or where I could’ve gotten him. I can’t beat him, but it was a great workout.

Rayne and Clay take the fresh herbs Anavrin packed for Tania and Kara, they head back to the main house. We all decide to go to the diner. Donovan walks back to the house with us to wait while Apep and I shower. Apep stays with us, but steps back to let us talk. Donovan never touches me or attempts to.

“Apep, how do dragonian gauge each other?”, Donovan asks.

Apep answers from a few steps behind us, “Pulses.”

Donovan glances at me. I’m not sure what he wants me to say. “What kind of pulses?”, Donovan asks.

“Power pulses.”, Apep replies with the same disinterested tone. Donovan smiles slightly and turns to look back at him,

“What are power pulses, Apep?” Apep studies Donovan, but doesn’t reply. Donovan looks back to me. “Stalker, what are power pulses?”

He answers me, “I don’t know how to explain it to you, Aziza.”

I stop and turn to him, “Will you show me?”

Apep tilts his head, “On him, yes. It will hurt you.” I do not wish to be pulsed then.

“Will it hurt him?”, I ask.

“Most definitely, little one.”, he replies simply and I can’t stop the laugh that spills from me.

Donovan grins at me before returning to Apep. “So, you essentially hurt each other?”, Donovan asks.

“That would depend on your power level. A much weaker dragon is hardly felt by the superior. He may not pulse back at all, his ability to remain unaffected already answers the question.”

We get to my cabin and I shower quickly and get dressed. Apep was already out of the shower and in the kitchen when I came out. Donovan asks Apep questions about dragonian social structures. Apep vaguely answers each question in a disinterested tone, but never impolitely. It occurs to me that the majority of the conversations had when I’m with Donovan, I’m not a part of. Most are with Ormr or Clay, now Apep. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s never bothered me before. I don’t think it bothers me now either. I just listen. We meet Ormr and Anavrin at the ‘y', I’m fairly certain Apep was linking him. I feel soft vibrations from him, now and then. It may be him linking.

Anavrin walks beside me, Ormr steps back to walk alongside Apep, following behind us. I can hear them speaking in Draconic softly. Apep’s deep voice, when he isn’t annoyed, is soothing.

Apep’s POV

I knew it was Donovan before I had even seen him enter the greenhouse. His scent is all over Ilayda’s cabin. I also know he was mating with her in the recent past.

Ormr walks alongside me, “How are you handling this?”, he asks me.

I glance at him, “I’m not sure. He hasn’t said or done anything offensive. At this point, I’m not sure whether he is here to date her or interview me.”, I reply, genuinely unsure of Donovan’s intent.

Ormr chuckles, “He’s a scholar and we’re a mysterious and reclusive breed. He does that with me too. He is a professor for the Fae Royal Guard. He’s an alright guy though. I like him.”, Ormr tells me. I know that was meant as a warning to be mindful of the answers I give.

My eyes wander over Ilayda in front of me. Her sweet sun-kissed citrus scent blows back to me as we walk behind them. Donovan is walking beside her, but the conversation is with Anavrin. I will say his lack of conversation with Ilayda has made me less annoyed with his presence, maybe that is his intent. I sit next to Ilayda, Donovan sits across from her. I can tell he is struggling with not touching her. He kept his hands folded behind him when we walked here and he had stopped himself reaching for her hand over the table a couple of times. I make eye contact with him each time he moves toward her, but I don’t say anything.

Donovan is talking to Ormr about pulses now. “It’s kind of like sonar. We can detect power from the things we pulse against.”, he explains.

I see Ilayda smirk slightly when she opens her menu. “What are you thinking about, Aziza?”, I ask her softly.

She smiles at me, “What I want to eat.”, she replies simply.

“Liar.”, I return, looking down at my menu.

She giggles, “I was thinking about the way Jayce squealed when he was trying to get back away from Ormr.”, she replies.

I chuckle, “Jayce is amusing. I like him.”

She smiles brightly, she is pleased by that, “I think he is Ormr’s favorite also. He is teased by the others, including his own sons, about being a dragonian in a lycan wolf body.”

I laugh at the realization, “I can see that. Who is your favorite, little one?”, I ask.

She furrows her brows, “Of the women, Anavrin, obviously. Of the men, probably Ormr. He gets me better than any of the others. I know it is because of the bond, but it still makes it easier to talk to him. I don’t have to try and explain what I feel. Clay is a close second. He always knows what to say.”, she tells me.

It doesn’t bother me that Ormr has that bond with her anymore, now that I know it is the only reason she is still alive. “I can understand that. How do you usually train?”, I ask her.

She tells me about training with Tania, Kara, and the Maiden, Natalia. She also trains with the lycan and Ormr during the week. They meet at the main house around 5am. I agree to go with her. “Can I still spar with the women?”, she asks.

My immediate thought is ‘absolutely not', but I can tell this is a part of her life that is really important to her. “I’ll allow it, Aziza.”, I answer reluctantly.

She smiles happily at me and accepts her dinner from the waitress. I return her smile and turn to accept my plate. Ormr calls out teasingly in Draconic, “Is your plan to steal all her attention, leaving him lonely?”

I smirk at him, “He hasn’t attempted to speak to her. I’ve left him plenty of opportunity. I want to talk to her, I enjoy her voice.”, I defend unashamed.

Ormr chuckles and begins eating his meal. Donovan, knowing exactly what we are saying, begins talking to Ilayda now. Ormr smirks at me as he takes a drink of his drink. The waitress comes by and checks my drink for the 5th time in the last few minutes. I tell her I’m fine and smile politely.

“She’s trying to get you to take the napkin.”, Ormr tells me in their language.

“I have a napkin.”, I reply dismissively.

He chuckles and Ilayda grins at me, “She wrote something on that napkin for you, stalker.”, she says, shaking her head. Does Ilayda want me to take it?

I look back when she passes again and accept the napkin. It’s just her name and number with a winking face. I don’t even have a phone. I hand it to Ilayda and finish my food. “I’m cute too.”, Ormr says when she passes and Anavrin blushes and smacks his shoulder, “Don’t tease her!”, she scolds in a low voice.

Ormr, Donovan, and I chuckle. I can feel the jealousy Ilayda tries to hide. I lean toward her and whisper, “I’m yours alone, Aziza. Her interests make no difference.”, I assure her. She studies me as I lean back to my seat. Then she takes a sip of her drink and turns to Donovan when he asks her about a Harvest Festival coming up here in the coven. She confirms that it is this weekend. We have all finished eating and we pay.

Ilayda leaves the napkin on her plate. She has no reason to be, but I enjoy her tiny display of jealousy. It proves she doesn’t want me with anyone but her. Ilayda grabs my forearm and stops me as we were walking out the door, allowing the door to close with the others all outside the diner. They take a few steps before stopping and turning back. I look down at Ilayda, “I need to talk to Donovan without you. You’ll know if he touches me, you feel it. Ormr told me that he felt Anavrin long before they mated and you felt Anavrin touch me in the greenhouse.”, she says softly, but firmly.

“Very well, little one.”, I reply before holding the door open for her. She passes by me and walks outside, I follow her.

As we reach the trails, Ormr asks in Draconic, “What was that about?”

I reply, “I’m not sure. She said she wants to talk to Donovan alone. She knows I can feel her.”, I reply.

He kisses Anavrin’s hand and grins at her, “I like to talk about my mate.”

She smacks his arm, “I missed the first part of what you just said, but that last sentence didn’t seem appropriate with you grinning like that at me.”, she tells him as she blushes. I chuckle at them and she turns even more red. Ormr kisses her temple. We separate at the ‘y'. We can hear Anavrin’s laugh as we continue to Ilayda’s cabin and it makes her smile.

Ilayda pauses on the porch, so I assume I’m to go inside. I can still hear them, I know she has to know that. The fae would know that. I sit in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the living room. I conjure a phone and search through shifter news sites. I can clearly hear them both. They sit on the porch and have normal catch up conversation. I need to be getting back out there, I have a solid lead on Anavrin’s mother. I was on my way to check it out when I found Ilayda. She doesn’t want a mate right now and she is safe here. Maybe I can leave her with Ormr long enough to check it out and come back. The thought makes me nauseous.

“I have a lead I need to be following. I can’t devote the kind of time Ilayda is going to take right this moment. I would hate to leave her here, but would you keep her safe until I return?”, I link Ormr.

“I will protect your mate, Apep. I would suggest you ask her to go with you though.”, he responds.

She is not going to go with me, she wants Donovan. “I doubt she would say yes, Ormr. She just got back home.”, I reply sadly.

“Apep, she asked me 3 years ago if she could go hunt with you. She will happily drop everything and take off with you on a hunt. Especially since it is a 10 year old cold case involving her best friend’s mom.”

I think that over. I would love to just take her with me. It would make everything so much simpler. “I’ll ask. If not, you have to watch her and no missions until I return.”

He confirms and we close the link. Ilayda comes in a short while later and sits at the bar, “I appreciate your patience, Apep.”

I study her for a moment. I think I’m going to lead her to ask me to come. If she wanted to before, I doubt it would change now. “I have a lead on Anavrin’s mother. That is where I was headed when I found you. I need to leave for a short time. Ormr has assured me he will keep you safe. I meant what I said about Donovan, Aziza. I will kill him if he touches you.”

She stands and crosses the room to sit across from me, “What kind of lead?”

I tilt my head, “You cannot tell her, I don’t want you to get her hopes up.” Ilayda nods and immediately agrees. “Rumor has it there was a lycan bear in a tiny train stop 50 miles from the Marina. He yanked a woman from the platform and carried her off, claiming she was his mate. It happened on the same day her train would’ve stopped there. I found a Council Commander that recalled the event and said that particular lycan was from Davila Falls, bear territory.”

She nods, “I want to go with you, Apep.”

I smile, “I would not leave you behind if you did not wish to be left, Aziza.”

She smiles happily, “When do we leave?”

I study her for a moment, “Tomorrow morning, after you’ve finished helping Anavrin.”

She smiles and stands, “Perfect. I won’t tell her why we are going; I promise.”, she assures me.

I chuckle, “I trust you, Aziza.” She tells me goodnight and heads to bed. I head for a cold shower. Being so close to her and unable to touch her is literal torture.

Ilayda’s POV

I wake up in the morning and hurry to get dressed. I’m so excited Apep said yes. Ormr had told me Apep would never take a woman with him to hunt. I fully expected him to tell me ‘no’.

I walk into the kitchen and the house is quiet, no sign of Apep. If he told me ‘yes’ just to get me to leave it alone, then go without me, I’m going to be pissed. I turn back toward the room he has conjured to find him standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame and studying me. I’m a little embarrassed that my mind ran away with me thinking he had left, knowing he felt my excitement, then my anger.

“What displeased you, Aziza?”, he asks as he stands and walks toward me.

Knowing he can tell a lie by the words alone, I give the somewhat embarrassing truth, “I thought you had left.”

He furrows his brows, then smirks, “If I ever leave you, it will be with your knowledge. I will not sneak off into the night, Ilayda.” I nod and turn back to the kitchen, grabbing my fruit bowl and sitting down at the counter. Apep moves to sit beside me. Once we’ve finished eating, we go to Anavrin and Ormr’s cabin.

As we walk up onto the porch, Apep suddenly stops and tilts his head. His head snaps to Anavrin and his eyes glow for a second. I glance to Ormr to see how he is taking it so I have some idea of what is happening. Ormr smiles as he watches Apep.

Apep suddenly smiles at Anavrin, bowing his head much lower than they usually do, then stands and turns to Ormr, “Congratulations, brother.”

I look toward Anavrin and she is smiling happily, “What is going on?”, I ask.

“I’m 2 weeks pregnant, Ilayda. We will have a baby in less than 13 weeks.”, Anavrin tells me excitedly.

“Oh my Goddess, I’m so happy for you!” I move past Apep and hug her tightly. I feel Apep’s annoyance, but he doesn’t say anything. I knew that they had decided to start trying for a baby, but Anavrin said infertility ran in her family. She was worried about being able to carry Ormr’s fledgling. I’m so happy it happened for them.

“We’ll be back long before she is due.”, Apep tells Ormr.

“Where are you going?”, Anavrin asks as she pulls away to look at me.

“Apep is going to show me Davila Falls.”, I tell her happily.

She smiles, “That will be nice, you’ll like it there.” We spend the next hour organizing ingredients for potions to be made and starting each batch. I leave her to finish and Ormr will help her get it all into vials. We head back to the cabin and Apep tells me to pack a small bag of things outside his conjuring ability. He would handle everything else. I packed my backpack full of snacks, teas, coffee for him, freeze dried meals, and bottled water.

Apep takes the bag from me as we walk outside. When he holds me, the tingles coursing through me are too much to handle for that long a period. “I don’t want you to carry me like a baby everywhere, Apep.”

He smirks at me, “Very well, Aziza. You can jump on my back, but you’ll have to hold on.” I throw my phone into my backpack and he zips it back up. I jump on his back and he shifts, concealing us as he carries us up into the sky.