Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series
Her Elemental Dragons: Shake the Earth: Chapter 5

While the others packed up their things I stood under the trees near the lake, needing some space. It was the morning after our encounter with the bandits, and we were about to head out. I checked the map again, noting the supposed location of the Resistance base, and frowned. I’d never heard of a base there, but it had been years since I’d been a part of that world. Still, I didn’t like it. We were trusting a bandit who likely would have tried to slit our throats and steal our things if he hadn’t recognized Kira. Who was to say he wasn’t sending us to our deaths?

“Almost ready to go?” Kira asked, as she moved to my side. Being so near her instantly made my body awaken in a primal way, reminding me of all the ways that I was male and she was female. Her shining red hair was tied back today, and a memory of brushing those long strands came to me, along with a desire to see her hair down about her naked shoulders, preferably spread out on a pillow below me.

“Just about.” I shook off the thought and folded up the map. Jasin and Auric had shifted into their dragon forms and were stretching their wings and preparing for a long flight, while Brin and Reven were loading our supplies onto their backs. I couldn’t believe they were all going along with this madness too.

Kira gave me a smile that brought back indecent thoughts again. Gods, she was beautiful. “We’re going to stop at my old village to get supplies and rest for the night. We should make it to the base tomorrow.”

I scowled. “Assuming there really is a base there. For all we know your ‘friend’ is leading us into some kind of trap.”

“Why would he lead us into a trap?”

“I don’t know. But I don’t have any reason to trust a bandit either.” Maybe he’d do it to make it easier to kill us and rob our corpses. Or maybe he’d do it to steal Kira away from us. Or maybe he just wanted to mess with our heads. How should I know?

She rested her hand on my arm and some of my tension faded. “You trust me though.”

“Of course I do. But were you ever going to tell us you were a bandit?”

Her face fell. “I was going to tell you eventually. It’s not exactly something you bring up in everyday conversation, and I was worried what you all might think.” She looked up at me with hazel eyes that were tinged with worry. “Do you judge me harshly for what I’ve done?”

I sighed and pulled her into my arms, holding her close to my chest. The revelation about her being a bandit had come as a shock, even though I understood why she’d done it. I just didn’t like the thought that she was hiding things from us. “No, we’ve all done some things we regret. I simply would have liked to know about your past before it came back and surrounded us with weapons.”

Her fingers gripped my shirt as she gazed up at me. “I understand, but I’m not the only one whose past is haunting us. You mentioned there was something you needed to tell me, and you haven’t explained how you got involved with the Resistance, but I’m not going to push you. We all have things we’d rather not talk about.”

She was right, it wasn’t fair of me to judge her for keeping secrets when I’d kept a few of my own. Secrets that would soon be uncovered once we arrived at the Resistance base. Better to reveal them now, no matter how much I hated talking about this part of my past.

“I’m ready to tell you now.” I took a deep breath, and then I released her and stepped back. “I mentioned before that when I was younger I was close to a girl in my village.”

“Yes, I remember.”

I swallowed hard. Once the past came out, it couldn’t be ignored or forgotten or avoided any longer. I’d have to finally face it. “Her name was Faya and we grew up together. There weren’t a lot of other people our age in the village and it seemed inevitable we’d be married. But that never happened.”

“Thank the Gods,” Kira said with a tight smile. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be my mate.”

“Indeed.” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to figure out the best way to tell this story. “Faya had a strong rebellious spirit and wanted change and progress. When she was a child her father was killed by the Crimson Dragon for speaking out against the tax hike, and that moment clouded everything she did, as I’m sure you can understand. She tried to fix all the problems in our village and as she grew older she wanted to fight against injustice. I was the one who balanced her out and steadied her, especially when her passion made her act without thinking. But eventually I wasn’t enough.”

“What happened?” Kira asked.

“Faya became involved with the Resistance, who had a small camp near our village, and it was like she’d finally found her true calling. She encouraged me to get involved too, but I was hesitant because of the danger involved. I agreed to make them weapons and armor, but no more, and only because I loved her and could tell this was important to her. We were engaged to be married by that time, and I suppose I thought she would settle down once we were wed.” I shook my head, disgusted at my younger self. “I was a fool. She began to spend more and more time with the Resistance, and especially their leader, Parin. I grew jealous and worried about her safety, and we fought a lot. She planned to become more active in the fight against the Dragons, and I longed for a quiet life without trouble. I wanted to be a husband, a father, and a blacksmith. She wanted to be a revolutionary.” I turned away from Kira, unable to look at the pity in her eyes as I got out this next part. “On the eve of our wedding, Faya confessed she’d been sleeping with Parin and had fallen in love with him. She wanted to join the Resistance permanently and she asked me to come too. She said she still loved me and wanted to be with both of us. Parin had already agreed to share her…but I couldn’t do it.”

“Oh, Slade, I’m so sorry.” Kira slid her arms around me from behind, resting her head on my back.

“After that night, I cancelled our wedding and cut all ties with the Resistance. I never saw her again.” I turned toward Kira and returned her embrace, cradling her in my arms. “But that was many years ago. I’ve moved on with my life, and I see now that it was all for the best. I wasn’t blameless either—I never should have tried to tame her spirit or prevent her from doing what she felt was right. And if I had stayed with her, I wouldn’t be with you now.”

Her brow wrinkled. “Are you sure you’re happy with that? We’ll likely never have a quiet life. Being with me goes against everything you wanted before.”

“What I want has changed over the last few weeks with you.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I simply wanted you to know about Faya before we arrived at the Resistance base, as there might be some…awkwardness if she and Parin are there.”

“Thank you for telling me.” She rested her head against my shoulder. “That must have been horrible for you. She cheated on you and betrayed your trust. No wonder you’ve been so resistant to this relationship.”

I stroked her hair as I held her close. “This path the Gods have sent us on has been unexpected and difficult to accept sometimes, but I’m committed to you and to our duty. Never doubt that.”

“I know.” Her eyes fixed on the collar of my shirt, and her voice came out hesitant. “Although I hope you’ll come to care for me as well.”

“I already do.” Now that I’d revealed my past, speaking the words came easier. I slid my hand along the soft skin of her face, before tangling my fingers in the hair at the base of her neck. “Kira, I’ve always cared for you.”

Her eyes flickered back up to my face, searching for the truth in it. “Always? I replace that hard to believe.”

“Always.” I drew her close and caught her mouth with mine, giving her a firm kiss. Her hands slid around my neck and her body pressed close, waking up parts of me that had been long neglected. I’d been celibate since Faya had left me eight years ago, but soon that would change. I couldn’t deny I was looking forward to it, especially because it was Kira. She was the first woman I’d wanted after Faya broke my heart, and I wasn’t going to let her go. Even if it meant sharing her with the other men. I’d replace a way to accept it somehow…because I had to. Kira was my destiny, and that meant the other men were my destiny too.

And she was worth it.