The Eye laughed, then said,You are shrewd, Lyrandir. I like that about you. So I will be honest with you. That was not a lie. Not entirely. I am not currently at your service. You are correct that I am a piece of the Goddess and as such, I am divine. But I am not the Goddess. I am a magical tool. I am meant to have a master and serve him. I have chosen you to be that master, Lyrandir. When you find me and claim me, I will serve you. I will not be able to disobey your orders.
I see. Then I look forward to our partnership.
Partnership,she mused.I like that. Yes, King Lyrandir, we will do great things together.
And you can help me protect my family and mate?
Lyrandir, even Dragons are not immune to my fire. You will have the power to incinerate anyone and anything in an instant.
She had said such things before, but I hadn't truly believed her, even with the myths supporting her claims. Myths are usually full of exaggeration. But as I flew to my birthplace, I began to believe. I began to believe and plan.
Chapter Fifteen
“Lyrandir!” my mother called as she came running out of the manor.
I landed in the courtyard and set Aras down carefully to one side. He showed no signs of flight sickness, but then he was a man of the sea. The rocking I gave him would be nothing compared to what he experienced on the ocean. Aras removed my clothes from the satchel as I shifted back into my man body.
“Mother.” I hugged her and then my father. With a glance at Aras, I hurriedly whispered. “He's my mate, but he doesn't know. Please say nothing. I'll explain later.”
My mother's face went rapturous with delight and then fell into confusion. “Why?”
My father simply nodded and said to her, “He said he will explain later, Jaclene.”
Mother sighed. “Very well.” Then she grinned. “Congratulations, Son.”
“Thank you.”
By then, Aras had wandered over. I took the clothes he offered as I introduced them. “Duke Hidero and Duchess Jaclene this is my lover, Captain Aras. Aras, these are my parents.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.” He shook my father's hand, then he kissed my mother's. “And Your Grace.”
My mother beamed at him. “Welcome, Aras. Did you have a nice flight?”
“Yes. It was my first time flying.”
“You handled it well,” I said and finished buckling my belt. “Now, let's go inside. We have some planning to do, and I need you to send word to Ellas, Father. Tell him to pack everything he holds dear and meet us here.”
“Pack?” My mother lost her happy expression.
“Son, what's happened?”
“Send the messenger, Father. Then I'll explain.”
“I need a message delivered!” my father shouted.
As we strode through the entry hall of their luxurious manor, rapid footsteps echoed to us from a hallway.
A Dragon man hurried into the room and bowed. “Yes, Your Grace?”
“Go to the Governor's estate and tell him the King bids him to pack his most precious belongings and come here with all haste.”
The man's eyes went wide, but he only bowed to me, then my parents, and said, “Yes, Your Grace. And welcome home, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you,” I said to him. “One more thing. When you are finished delivering your message, I want you to go into townand quietly spread the word that the dread's nobles are uniting against me.”
“Your Majesty?” The man gaped at me.
So did my parents.
