Embrace the Dark

7

Carth let out a short laugh as he grabbed his wine. “My sister is set to inherit mother’s estates, so I’ve always been the spare and able to do whatever I please.” A sensual grin spread across his face. “And right now, that’s you.”

Heat spread to my cheeks and to other places in my body, reminding me of what I would soon be doing with these three men. In order to gain my elemental powers, I would have to bond with each of them at the different temples across the four Realms. Mom had told me what would happen during the bonding, but not in too many details, of course. Still, I had an idea of what to expect.

Erroh rolled his eyes. “The texts all say she has to bond with her mates in the order of their arrival, so you’ll have to wait your turn. The Air Temple is first.”

“Sounds like someone is eager to get started,” Carth said with a smirk.

Erroh rested his hand over mine. “I’ve been waiting to be with Sora for a long time. I’m ready whenever she is.”

Carth trailed his fingers down my forearm. "You know, I was the first one in the room after Erroh. Therefore we should head to the Water Temple after Air, isn’t that right?"

Zain scowled. "You most certainly were not. I entered the room first. I knew about the order rule, and I made sure to be the first in."

Carth shook his head. "I think if you search your memory, you'll find I'm correct."

Erroh winked at me as they argued. He didn't care who went next. He would be my first.

I couldn't help but be happy it would be him. I'd been attracted to Carth and Zain for years, but Erroh I'd loved since we were kids. Now that I could allow myself to be free and honest with how I felt, I was sure of it.

As his thumb stroked my knuckles and the gazes of the men all rested on me, desire made my heart race. I was ready. Wasn’t I?

Chapter Four

M

y mates’ training began the next day, bright and early. Each of the men lined up outside in the courtyard facing their new teachers: my fathers. Zain bowed low to Jasin, who snickered in response. Carth made a joke to Revan, but his hard expression never changed. Auric clasped Erroh on the shoulder and gave him a few kind words with a smile. At least the two of them got along.

Mom was busy meeting with some elementals and had to skip this session, but promised she would try to make future ones. Slade stood beside me with his arms crossed while they began. Everyone spread out a bit for safety purposes, and then my three fathers showed off an easy move using their element. Jasin created a small flame in his hand and moved it from one palm to the other. Auric made leaves swirl around his head. Reven blasted Carth in the chest with water, making the poor guy stumble back. I pinched the bridge of my nose and hoped this wouldn’t be a total disaster.

“I’m curious to see who the Earth God chose for you,” Slade said.

I remembered the dark man in my dream. Last night I’d had another vision of him, this time drinking beer while he cheered someone on with a cruel smile. “Me too.”

Slade must have heard something uncertain in my voice because he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Have faith, daughter. Everything will make sense in time.”

I leaned against him, taking comfort in his warm strength. I was truly the luckiest woman in the world to have four wonderful fathers, even if it was sometimes annoying or frustrating. Or awkward, like during this training.

As we watched, Zain set fire to a small patch of grass, Carth flooded the area around his expensive shoes, and Erroh had a hard time producing another gust of wind at all. I sighed. “Were the four of you ever this bad?”

“Unfortunately yes,” Slade admitted. “We didn’t have anyone to teach us how to use magic either. Don’t worry. They will learn quickly with our help. You will too.”

I couldn’t wait to have all that power under my control. As soon as I bonded with each man, I would be able to use their element. Once I had the power of all four, I could become the next great dragon leader—like my mother.

But first, I needed my final mate to arrive.

Over the next few days my mates’ training continued, while I spent my time impatiently waiting for the Earth God’s chosen one to arrive—and dreading the moment too. Every night I dreamed of the same black-haired man, and every night he scared me more and more.

In the evenings, my mates and I shared more meals together and tried to move from childhood friends to something more. It wasn’t as easy as I’d expected. It didn’t help that the men were so exhausted after training they didn’t have much energy for socializing. I started to wonder if that was my fathers’ plan all along.

I was practicing sword fighting with Zain and Carth to hone my skills in defending against two attackers, when Erroh rushed past. He called out, "It's Parin! He's returned from the Earth Realm!"

Zain tilted his head as he sheathed his sword. "I thought he wasn't supposed to return for another month."

Carth shrugged. "Negotiations must have gone well."

"Or very poorly,” I muttered.

Parin was Erroh's older brother, and he took his name from his father, who’d died while leading the Resistance against my grandmother, the Black Dragon. Parin’s mother Faya later married former bandit turned soldier Cadock, and together they had two more children, Daka and Erroh. Parin worked as a diplomat to the Earth Realm, and often traveled back and forth between there and Soulspire.

We headed over to the courtyard in front of the palace, where Parin’s contingent had arrived. He'd already exited his carriage and was speaking with his brother in hushed tones. As he lifted his head, his dark eyes met mine and lingered there. I sensed something in them, something I'd never seen before.