Page 56 of Golden Dragon Bind

“Looks like Rachida cleaned out not just my rooms but also the family areas my mother Juliette used with Mimi.” Adrian chuckled as he glanced around. “Looks like she’s serious about modernizing those areas for new members of the clan.”

“It’s a good thing, Adrian.” Dusk continued lightheartedly as he gripped Adrian’s shoulder. “You needed a change. Staying at Riad Rhakvir for your Kingship would have just caused old ghosts to haunt your mental halls. Here you can have a fresh start – and build your Kingship as it’s supposed to be, as you re-build Wahdi Atlamenta and bring together the Desert Dragons. You and Layla both.”

“And all of you.” Adrian lifted a dark eyebrow at Dusk now as he gripped Dusk’s shoulder back. “I wasn’t joking when I said I’m gonna need all the help I can get from those of you who are already Kings.”

“I know.” Dusk winked at Adrian. “I get it – I have better problem-solving skills than you do.”

As Layla and Reginald laughed, Adrian squeezed Dusk’s shoulder, chuckling. Just then, Rhennic came out from the King’s complex dressed in a casual storm-blue vest and trousers with a white shirt, his lavender eyes becoming enormous as he whistled at all the piled-up items beneath the veranda. Stepping to the rest of them with a wide grin, Rhennic nodded his bearded chin at the hodgepodge. “What is all that?”

“Adrian’s junk.” Dusk grinned impudently, grinning to beat the band.

“MyKinglyjunk.” Adrian bantered back as his turquoise-gold eyes twinkled in the sun.

“I doubt much of your wardrobe or personal items are particularly Kingly, Adrian.” Reginald spoke with a wry twist to his full lips now, adding his own cutting, delicious humor to the mix. “Business tycoon, perhaps. King? Not by a lifetime.”

“So I get more 17thCentury embroidered shit. Would that do?” Adrian laughed, teasing Reginald right back in the blithe afternoon.

“Maybe a gilded tea setting or three would help.” Reginald returned without a hitch, his sea-grey eyes on fire with gold. “Or you could always invest in a coat-of-arms, I suppose.”

“I’ll let you re-decorate my rooms, Aldo, how about that?” Adrian laughed as he clapped Reginald on the shoulder. As they all shared a chuckle, Fury finally exited the inner apartments dressed in a light grey vest and trousers and a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up and bare feet. Combing his long silver hair out over one shoulder, he blinked at the mountain of crates as he came to join everyone else by the pool.

“I could never travel the world with that much fuss and bother in tow, I tell you that much, Adrian.” Fury spoke with smooth wit as he shook his head, then glanced to the group. “By the way, the palace caterers just set up a late afternoon spread inside, if anyone’s hungry.”

“More food?” Dusk laughed, raising his eyebrows. “I swear, Adrian, your people think there are like, ten meals in every day!”

“What can I say? We Desert Dragons care about family.” Adrian chuckled as he slung his right arm around Layla and his left around Dusk. “And you all are family now, so you get the best food and then some.”

But Adrian winced as he hugged Layla, and taking his arms down from around her and Dusk, he rolled up the sleeve of his embroidered silk robe. Beneath was his new Desert Dragon King tattoo in all its glory, fully inked upon his right arm at last. Like the one on his left side, this one writhed up around his right forearm from his wrist and the back of his hand, in a vaguely Asian style with features so lifelike it seemed to bite into his flesh. With gold, red, and black details on its long, sinuous body, it’s eyes burned a vivid Mediterranean-blue as it clawed viciously into his upper forearm. Smiling wryly, Adrian massaged his elbow, rolling his wrist as if the marking still hurt from being inked on him three days ago at his Kingship ceremony.

“Does it hurt?” Layla asked, having never had a real tattoo except for the brief time that her and Adrian’s Bind had burned her inner wrist.

“Always.” Adrian smiled with wry pleasure as he shook his sleeve back down. “My Clan First tattoo still hurts everyday, reminding me of the passion and fire I wield as a Desert Dragon leader, Layla. This Kingship tattoo will burn no less, and probably more – reminding me of my sworn duties to my people as their King for the rest of my days.”

“A grisly yet poignant tradition.” Reginald chuckled as he watched Adrian with respect. “We Sirens love pain, but few ever take permanent marks from a Marquist, for good reason. They roil with power and tempestuousness all a person’s life, amplifying the unrest within and goading a person into action. Our ancient Concubines used to do it. But they were made of sterner stuff than even most Kings and Queens.” This last was said to Layla as Reginald gave a prescient smile.

“I suppose we’re all Kings and Queens now, in our way,” Layla mused as she looked around. “Even you, Fury.”

“I know.” He smiled back as his eyes glowed silver. “I don’t need a proper position or title in the world to know it.”

“King of your own freedom.” Rhennic added with a glance at Fury. “A more precious thing in all the world than titles and accolades.”

“I feel like we’re all free, now that Hunter’s no longer hounding us.” Layla spoke as she glanced around her mates. “Even Nadia and Nimir are, settled back at Petra with the Binds, though the city isn’t hidden anymore. Nadia’s renamed it the Bind-City of Petra. She called yesterday to invite us to come visit anytime.”

“Will you?” Adrian asked then as he watched her.

“I will.” Layla nodded, feeling peace about it. “Even though a lot of the Binds living there now were conscripted into Hunter’s army, most of them never wanted to be. They don’t have lives anymore, but Nadia’s made a place for them at Petra, recuperating and learning how to live again.”

“Nadia and Queen Ishet Arlohaina have set up an excellent counseling and rehabilitation program between Petra and the Crystal Plateau, with the help of my mother Sky.” Dusk spoke with a sweet smile. “We’re using some of the best healing and resonance chambers at the Plateau to harmonize Binds and help them process their trauma. Even though Queen Ishet is living at Petra now and doesn’t want an official position in our Lineage, she’s heading up a lot of social work projects. She’s a blessing, and I’d like to spend more time with her, once things calm down.”

“We can go visit Queen Ishet and Nadia together.” Layla smiled as she took Dusk’s hand, squeezing it. “Like Queen Ishet, Nadia’s our family, too. We’re all part of the Golden Dragon Bind because of her – and her loving wish that Hunter find peace at the end of his days.”

“You never killed him in anger, Layla.” Adrian spoke up soberly now as he took her other hand. “Just like you wanted to, you didn’t strike Hunter down out of vengeance at the end. Only compassion and love. Bringing him peace.”

“All deepest heart’s desires shall be fulfilled; and the bloodline of your youngest, the Golden Dragon Bind, shall make it so.” Layla quoted with a wistful smile. “I didn’t know it until the end, but Hunter’s deepest heart’s desire was never conquering or dominance, re-uniting his Bind or even love. It was peace. And we fulfilled that for him, as per the Ascendant’s prophecy. Now we get to see that peace continued. A peace I intend to make the most of – with all of you beside me.”

As heartfelt smiles spread through their Bind, Layla’s men reached out, taking each other’s hands. Standing in a ring by the pool, Layla felt a beautiful energy surge through them then, their magic spiraling high into the midsummer afternoon. As she felt the gold-white Star Bind sing through them all, she knew she wasn’t the pinnacle of this magic. This was a magic of equals; and as Adrian smiled at her, his Mediterranean-blue eyes twinkling with passion and delight, Layla smiled back, beaming from her heart. Leaning down, Adrian kissed her, sending that passion through them all as he breathed love deep inside her. Layla felt the Bind heat; all her partners enjoying that passion now as it moved through them. And then Reginald moved to Dusk, kissing Layla’s Crystal Dragon with delight as he harnessed that fire-bright glory.

Turning it into a deluge in the hot summer day.

Layla was suddenly scalding as she lost her breath – kissing Adrian harder as Fury’s magnificent Siren-drake joined Reginald’s game now with a gleeful eros. And as Rhennic poured a deep joy through them all and Dusk rumbled his beautiful heart into Reginald’s kiss, a roaring oneness suddenly flooded them. Careening into the bright summer day as all their ardor rose, everyone was swept up in that delicious dance of passionate love.

As all their lives brightened – to the Golden Dragon Bind at last.

THE END