Treoir Dragon Hoard: Belador Book 10 Page 11

  Tristan appeared and asked, “Can he hear you out here?”

  In answer, Sen shimmered into view and demanded in a surly tone, “What do you want?”

  Daegan got straight to the point. “I wish to speak with a Tribunal.”

  “When?”

  “Now.”

  Daegan fought not to smile at the appalled look on Sen’s face. The VIPER liaison did not care to be challenged.

  Too bad. Daegan didn’t care what Sen thought.

  “I’ll ask if they’ll make a time for you, but they’re not seeing you this very minute,” Sen said, taking a threatening pose with his hands loose.

  Daegan made no action of acknowledgement. Instead, he told Sen, “You have one minute to arrange a meeting. When I leave, so will my Beladors and all of our support for VIPER. Be sure to relay that when they finally decide upon a time.”

  Sen blinked out of existence without another word.

  Tristan asked, “Think he’s doing what you asked?”

  Daegan had no idea. He’d been broken out of TÅμr Medb while still cursed as Maeve’s dragon throne, and this new world he’d rejoined had proven to be a curious place. People did not always act as if they understood how close to death they stepped.

  Power belched out all around them as Sen appeared.

  Tristan pinched his nose. “Ugh. Don’t do that so fast. The majik stinks.”

  Sen sliced a look at Tristan that could cut a man in half. Then he told Daegan, “The Tribunal will see you, but they warn that it had better be worth doing it on short notice.”

  “What are we waiting for?”

  In the next instant, Daegan and Tristan were deposited in the familiar Tribunal setting he recalled from his first visit. Same circular plane of grass beneath their feet. Same endless sky that surrounded them, similar to the glass cover on a snow globe, an odd trinket he’d found in Atlanta.

  And the same raised dais with three entities standing upon it.

  Unfortunately, one was Loki, the god who lived to create turmoil in all worlds. He had probably only agreed to support Tribunals for the sheer fun of causing chaos.

  Next to Loki stood Justitia, goddess of justice, wearing a gold blindfold and simple gown, but holding a set of scales to one side. Assuming the blindfold meant she would not be able to know what happened around her would be foolish.

  Daegan had heard plenty about her as a child.

  Tinkling sounds came from a lyre Hermes strummed while staring off at nothing with a bored expression. Easy to understand, with the boring music this god played endlessly.

  Why was he even in a Tribunal?

  He belonged in a king’s court as unnoticed entertainment for guests wandering around. Hermes had the face of a god, but he could not hold his own with others like Loki.

  Speaking of the trickster god, the last time Daegan had met him in this location Loki had been in a jovial mood. Loki had enjoyed his power play until Daegan pointed out that none of them knew his powerful mother, whose identity he intended to keep secret.

  Had been sworn to keep secret.

  “What is the problem, dragon king?” Loki asked, no patience evident.

  “One of my people has been kidnapped in a brutal fashion. I wish to question Macha and Maeve to see if either was involved. Doing that here where they are unable to lie would save everyone time.”

  “We are not expected to provide for interrogations,” Justitia replied, but Loki lifted his hand to request the floor.

  Just as Daegan had heard, Justitia missed nothing. She turned her face to Loki with a sour expression on her lips even though she couldn’t see his hand. She returned to facing forward and Hermes kept plucking away at his strings.

  Loki asked Daegan, “Why should we provide this service for you?”

  “Upon VIPER’s request, my Beladors have returned to support the coalition’s enforcement for the past ten days. From what I understand, the Beladors have provided the largest number of warriors for many years. For that reason alone, my request should be met with the respect it deserves.” Allowing a moment for his warning to get through, Daegan continued. “More than that, the time is coming that preternaturals will face exposure to humans. When that happens, you will need us more than ever.”

  “Too late,” Loki countered. “There are reports of humans using their phones to film strange events at two vehicle wrecks in downtown Atlanta. Sen tells us the Beladors are at fault for this, yet you come here demanding our aid.”

  Tristan murmured, “Sorry.”

  Daegan would have preferred to be informed on that point before arriving here, but it changed nothing. VIPER would not hold Beladors responsible for incidents out of their control.

  They had Sen to clean up things.

  Daegan asked, “If that is so, why did your liaison not wipe human minds and destroy electronics that could be replaced? Seems you have the answer to that issue standing here with us.”

  Sen’s power flushed out hard.

  Daegan ignored him, keeping his attention on the three gathered on the dais.

  Rather than respond to that question, Loki said, “We are busy. What do you want?”

  “To locate our missing Belador.”

  “Who is it?”

  By the sly look in Loki’s eyes, Daegan knew that the god had been well informed of who was missing. “Evalle Kincaid. If Macha and Maeve play no part in this kidnapping, then they should have no problem saying so.”

  The irritating god made everyone wait during a long moment of decision simply to insult Daegan, who would never waste time posturing frivolously with Evalle’s life at risk.

  Casting a smirk in Daegan’s direction, Loki said, “Macha refuses to join us. She did ask me to pass along her pleasure at hearing Evalle is captured. Maeve said Cathbad is unavailable and she refuses to join us without him present even though I assured both her and Macha they would face no penalty for agreeing to attend.”

  Daegan wanted to crush that god. He had not given leave for Loki to allow those goddesses the freedom to come and go if either had committed this crime.

  Remaining here would only cost valuable time. Daegan said, “I have a Nightstalker actively searching for details on this kidnapping. He requested that no handshakes be shared with Nightstalkers in Atlanta until he ferrets out every piece of information we need. My Beladors have been ordered to comply until I say otherwise. I suggest you warn others associated with VIPER to also not interfere, as I will be informed immediately.” That wouldn’t guarantee VIPER stayed out of his way, but agents with any survival instincts would not want a dragon breathing down their necks.

  In closing, Daegan said, “Loki, Justitia and Hermes, thank you for the meeting. I will not forget your aid.”

  They could take that at face value, or read between the lines and hear his anger over their lack of support.

  Smiling as if this had turned out better than expected, Loki said, “You’re welcome, dragon. Does this mean you’ll be gone for some time hunting for the gryphon?”

  Daegan gleaned Loki’s meaning.

  This group of entities thought they saw an opportunity?

  Offering a warrior’s face in return, Daegan said, “I’m often gone overseeing my Beladors. They are a power to be respected, especially considering our telepathic abilities. My people can reach me anywhere and anytime should they need me.”

  No exactly true, since even Trey McCree, the most powerful known telepath of the Beladors, could not reach beyond the human realm to a different one other than Treoir.

  Daegan doubted Loki believed his bluff, but it might buy him enough time to hunt Evalle and return to the castle before someone teamed up with Macha or Maeve and Cathbad to invade Treoir.

  If they made that mistake, they would all pay dearly.

  CHAPTER 13

  Tuatha Dé Danann

  Macha held his head at the juncture of her legs and shook with need only because she didn’t want this to end soon. This man had seduced her years ago, conf
idently stating that he could make her see stars using only his mouth.

  He’d made good on that claim more times than she could count before she broke off their arrangement when he overstepped his position.

  He had to be driving majik through his tongue, the devil.

  No human tongue could plunge that deep inside and emit an electric charge.

  But then again, he was not human.

  That same tongue had convinced her to bring him back into her world.

  She arched two feet into the air off the plush lounger and rode her climax into a bath of stars. Energy spiraled around her in arcs of bright light.

  His hands were on her breasts, teasing the hard tips and sending her into another wave of orgasms.

  Time had no place in this realm.

  She couldn’t say if the climax had lasted seconds or hours, but when it was done she slowly floated down and allowed him to enter her.

  That had been almost as enjoyable as hearing that Daegan was hunting for Evalle. She loved good news.

  Dakkar drew her attention back to him. He had been gifted with beautiful teak skin, dark curly hair and a dick Zeus would envy.

  The bounty hunter might have been born this way, but she doubted it. As a mage, he’d gained a lot of skills and gifts, which put him in a position to run herd over an army of other bounty hunters.

  But they weren’t Beladors.

  Dakkar pumped harder and she enjoyed the feel of him, watching with fascination as he came all on his own. He’d once tried to have her join in his climax, but she’d told him no.

  She preferred being a voyeur at this moment.

  She didn’t want him to ever think these couplings had deep meaning.

  As an immortal, she’d had many lovers over the years. He would one day be replaced by another, but it would not be easy. Dakkar had become her favorite lover of recent times.

  He should live another sixty or seventy years. With his majik, he would not age beyond the way he looked right now until his majik gave out.

  Dakkar expected her to make him immortal before that time.

  He didn’t understand that even if she were to consider keeping him longer, it wasn’t as if she could use a majik wand to accomplish such a change.

  While she resided in this realm, she had to abide by a few rules. One had to do with turning anyone immortal. To accomplish such a goal, she’d either have to bring in a god with whom she held favor who would assist her or ... gain access to the river of immortality beneath Treoir Castle.

  Finished, Dakkar caught his breath, slid over to the side and propped his head, gazing at her. His eyes held so much sensual interest.

  She wished she could care for someone the way he seemed to care for her, but she’d left that woman behind long ago. Today’s Macha had bigger goals than to gain the love of any man.

  “What are you thinking, dove?”

  Now was the time to smile and seduce him with her charm so that he would continue to find ways to keep her happy. “Just thinking how it would be nice to keep you forever.”

  He tried to hide his thrill at that suggestion, but Dakkar’s longing sparked at his favorite topic. “Nothing would make me happier than to be the companion you deserve for the rest of eternity. I would do all in my power to give you anything you desired.”

  Eternity with one man? One who was not even a god?

  She managed not to shudder at that thought. A few hundred years perhaps.

  She’d wanted one male forever, but he’d taught her that to care so deeply had been a dangerous mistake.

  Giving him a treat, she said, “I do love the ways you find to make me happy.”

  While toying with her hair, Dakkar said, “Like when I took Lorwerth to Atlanta and forced a red dragon into the open?”

  That might not be the best thing to remind her of, since he had failed to kill Daegan. “Not the first thing that comes to mind since Daegan still breathes.”

  “I know, dove, but I told you it would take time. If you’d gift me the ability to teleport, I could do so much more for you now.”

  She refrained from answering.

  Dropping his head down, he covered one of her breasts with his mouth. That gifted tongue sent a sizzle of desire to her womb and dragged a gasp from her.

  Lifting his head, he eased over the top of her and pushed inside her, ready to go again. “I am your slave in all ways.”

  She pointed out, “I have made it simple for you to visit me here. That should be enough.”

  His smile faltered and so did his erection.

  This would be a poor time for her to smile.

  Regardless, she would have if not for needing this man to destroy Daegan, as Maeve should have. That stupid cow had allowed Daegan to live all these years, then Macha’s own Beladors freed him.

  Hard for her to decide which one she wanted to hurt more, Maeve or Daegan.

  Poor Dakkar waited for some sign of encouragement.

  She had the perfect idea. “Kill the dragon and I’ll give you the gift of teleportation.”

  He turned hard as a chair leg. “Not to sound ungrateful, but would not the dragon’s death be worth more?”

  Well, wasn’t he the confident one? “Such as?”

  “We often speak of my becoming immortal,” he said.

  She silently corrected him. He often spoke of joining the ranks of gods, but Dakkar could be the very person to accomplish killing Daegan. She didn’t exactly have warriors standing in line who were willing to go after a two-thousand-year-old dragon.

  And if Dakkar did succeed, Daegan would be out of the way so that Macha could take control of Treoir again.

  She’d never accessed the river of immortality running beneath the castle, simply because King Gruffyn had warned her only a Treoir could summon the river, which remained otherwise invisible. He’d gone on and on about the rules of turning anyone immortal, but she’d glazed over at that point. The fewer immortals around, the better for her.

  With access to that river once again in the future, she’d simply hold someone hostage until Brina did her bidding. The one time Macha had seen the river’s powers used, Brina’s father had summoned the river to give Tzader’s father immortality.

  Macha had allowed Tzader’s father, upon his death, to pass that immortality to his son. All of that had worked perfectly for Macha’s plans at the time.

  This new plan had true potential and Dakkar was overly motivated. Wouldn’t Daegan’s death be fun?

  It would also mean snatching him from Maeve’s reach.

  Macha cautioned, “If I agree to gift you immortality—”

  “And teleportation,” Dakkar interjected, losing points for doing so.

  She gave him a withering look and continued, “As I said, if I agree, you must prove you killed him to claim your gift.”

  His cunning eyes twinkled with delight. “If I bring you an entire dragon body, what would you do with it?”

  Lifting a shoulder in dismissal, she said, “I’d create a hundred pairs of red dragon-skin boots.”

  Throwing back his head, he laughed, then brought that mouth back down to her other breast and stoked a new surge of energy racing over her skin.

  Yes, she would keep this one as long as she continued to be entertained.

  She did appreciate the level of confidence he showed over the idea of destroying a dragon.

  Dakkar lifted his head and said, “Every bit of information will help me to serve you better. Tell me again about the time of dragons and King Gruffyn.”

  “Not that again.”

  “Why not?”

  “That was when I ruled Treoir with no interference.” She hated thinking about good times. She preferred only to experience them.

  “Come on, dove. Let’s plan your return to Treoir then. When Daegan is gone, no one will ever enter that realm unless you allow it.“

  She studied him closely. “You seem very sure of yourself.”

  “I am. You should know me well enough by
now to realize I have not been idle when I am not with you.”

  That sounded as if he already had a plan of action in motion.

  What had her arrogant bounty hunter been up to?

  Moving his hips to renew her interest in another round of sex, he whispered, “When you take possession of Treoir again, I will be there to help you fill it with your followers and you’ll never need to deal with VIPER, Daegan or humans again.”

  He spoke as a peer, which he would never be, but she would allow him to dream for now. What harm could there be in seeing just what he had to offer?

  CHAPTER 14

  Quinn walked to the balcony of the midtown condominium in Atlanta that he’d arranged for Reese and Phoedra, his thirteen-year-old daughter.

  That wasn’t exactly true.

  Reese had refused to move the two of them to the luxury unit, which he’d pulled markers to have ready for occupancy in less than a day. She declared she would not aid him in pushing Phoedra to move. He was on his own to explain to his child why they were being forced to make the change.

  That’s when he’d taken a breath and a step back.

  Yes, he’d been angry. Hurt more than anything, but this father business meant not storming in to have his way. He was learning and determined to excel at the most important job of his life.

  Once he accepted that Reese would be one of the more difficult opponents he’d ever negotiated with, he’d bowed to her terms. He supplied her and Phoedra with a real estate agent who would chauffer them around to review what was available.

  In hindsight, he admitted to himself he had been overbearing. What could he say? His heart had wanted Phoedra with him and overruled his good sense.

  He was not happy about his daughter living with Reese instead of him, but she had known his daughter for the past two years. Quinn had just recently met Phoedra for the first time. The girl had been born in secret and watched over by a guardian whose identity neither Reese nor Phoedra would share.

  Since Phoedra’s mother, Kizira, had been a Medb priestess who had hidden their child from her coven, Quinn had no doubt said guardian was a preternatural.

  Phoedra trusted Reese, who had proven she would put her life between his daughter and danger.