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036: Tainted Seed
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
VictoryAnne ViceI am sorry for the extra long chapters. I try to keep them under 1700 words to keep the price reasonable. Sometimes, however, I have a lot of story to tell. What do you think of the Technician now? Does knowing their backstory bring clarity to their motivations?
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Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 037: Seeing Beyond
[Ona]I knew I was risking my marriage and my reputation, but I decided to go to the Elf King's tent alone.So I waited for the castle to grow still, for deep night to bring the cessation of activities. The Technician will be waiting for me to report back within the hour, so I do not have much time to convince the King of Elfhom to come and meet the monster holding my brother hostage.Thankfully, Orion and Daax were perfectly on time for their turn watching the little ones."Oh thank goodness," I try not to sound too relieved, I don't want them to be suspicious. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind watching them alone for a while," I get up from my perch and stretch painfully as my spine cracks and my leg muscles remember how to work. "I need to take a walk to clear my head and get some exercise. I might also go for a fly around the grounds."But Mother," Orion took a nervous step forward, "I had something I needed to speak with you about. Something...important and I..."I think I know wha
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 038: Secrets
[Ona] I try to reason with the Elf King but he isn't listening to reason, or much of anything as he rushes around his tent, grabbing and filling a pouch made of what looks like the same material as my cape, only thicker and more dense. "The Technician might not be available," I warn as he rushes out of the tent with me close on his heels. "Your Majesty, It won't do us any good to rush in and not be welcome, especially in this castle, and the queen will likely notice that the two of us are roaming around somewhere we shouldn't be," I gasp trying my best to keep up with this much bigger drake who moves forward with the speed and grace of a whip of lightning. He almost seems to glow as he moves, as if trapped between his energy and physical forms. "The Technician knows I'm coming," He argues over his shoulder as he marches forward. "The entire reason you were sent was because they knew what my reaction would be as soon as I learned that my niece and her mate are in the Dream State." "
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 039: Doom Spiral
[Ona]Breathe in.The Technician is living on borrowed time. As soon as that bastard is no longer useful to us, I will flay this monster, hang it from the tallest spire, and watch as the ravens and vultures peck at whatever flesh is under that suit.Breath out.Primus and Carnelia are still alive. They are not okay, but they will be. The Elf King and I will see to it. And when they are, we will get them and the babies far, far away from this nightmare zone. Luxandra is cursed. We don't need this damned wasteland. We'll take our family back to the celestial kingdom and shut the gates forever.Thalan squeezed my hand. Gazing up at his proud visage, I notice the small twitches along his jaw as he tries to keep himself calm. I'm supposed to be supporting him, keeping him from doing something regrettable. When his starlight eyes meet mine I can tell he is thinking the same thing--Our revenge is going to be long and sweet."When I had Queen Carnelia brought here, Primus was already showing s
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 040: Between Family
No. The word echoes around us, stunning both the Technician and I. “I will not help you,” his teeth are bared, his fangs extended to sharp points. “You unnatural cultural appropriation technology-stealing monster. How many of my people had to die for you to get this contraption to work? How many did you lock into this Dream State to steal our secrets?” “I have killed no Moon Dragons,” the Technician swears. “Nor did I steal this technology. It was given freely to Segundus while…” “Spare me your lies,” the king is spitting mad, foaming at the mouth in anger. “I will help, but not for you.” his night sky eyes are blazing with specks of starlight. “Never for you. But I will do it because of her.” He points down at Carnelia. “And him and all the innocents across our kingdoms who will be forced to suffer at the hands of a fool because you were too stupid to do your research before making matters more complicated.” He reaches forward and places his bare hand into the tub. The Technicia
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 041: Star-Crossed Mates
[Orion][The night before] Kora is late. Kora is often late, but tonight she is later than usual. I knew I would be getting to our meeting spot early, but tonight I have watched the moon rise and crest and still there is no sign of her. Our meeting place is a little lake on the mountain just a small flight from the castle. We first found this place together shortly after I arrived. I chased her here. We had newly discovered one another, and not quite ready to take things any further, so our chase ended with a game of tag and a heated kiss in the cool water. Usually, we meet in the forest near the castle, near the false grave of my uncle. It is close and private enough to keep our conversations secret. This has been fine as we have gotten to know one another, but over the last few days, our meetings have ended more passionately than before with a frantic energy that begs for completion. I don't think this can go on much longer. We are both so close to going into heat that if we do no
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 042: Trust
[Daax]I must not have heard Orion correctly. Because if I did, I'm not sure what I am going to tell his mother.She's likely to kill us both. Me for telling her to trust his judgment, and him for doing something so stupid."Orion," I place a gentle hand on his shoulder. He has just taken a big step as a drake, and if I do not tread lightly, both Ona and I could lose him forever if I handle this incorrectly. "She said she was who?" "My cousin, Father," his face is flush with embarrassment, torn between expressions of sadness and pain. "Princess Juliana." Tritus' daughter. Tritus Majere. Ona's half-brother and the drake who sold our family to his brother Segundus over and over again. He was a talented genius with more brains than honor and if his daughter is half of what he was, she can't be trusted to be anything but calculating and cruel. To make matters even more complicated, Orion shot a lightning bolt through Tritus' heart to save his mother and me because he had us and our peo
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 043: Forgiveness
[Ona] My son's hurt face is all I can see in the back of my mind as I fly away from this disaster. I never meant to hurt him with my words, but he needed to understand the gravity of his decision. It is more than just the fact that he pursued his mate without permission, that he went against my express orders not to do so. He did something that will be hard for me to forgive and impossible to set aside completely. She is the daughter of the enemy. He knows better than that, or at least I thought he did. How could he know who she is and still choose to take her to mate, to demand that he honor her? He's had many drakaina before her, quick flings that mean nothing, that he made sure wouldn't end in a clutch. Why couldn't he have just had fun with her and been done? I know how strong the pull is, I've lived it myself. But this is my son. What is the point of teaching him from your mistakes if he is just going to repeat them? The tears on my face turn to frost as I struggle to fly hig
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 044: Against Better Judgment
[Primus] How did she find a space in my heart? I must be crazy, catching feelings for a woman like her. And to make things worse, she seems to be completely oblivious to her effect on me. When she touches me I can't see straight, and when she walks across the room, I can't remember how to breathe. But she also drives me absolutely insane. She must be the most confusing person to ever walk the face of this planet. Of all the girls to have a crush on, why did I have to pick the self-destructive batty one? "Why didn't you tell me you can't sing?" I shout as we run from the third tavern in Green Hollow that evening. "I thought you said you could sing." "I said I could sing poorly," she enunciates that last word slowly, as she mounts the horse behind me, adjusting my lute so we fit snugly together before galloping away from this godforsaken town. "Poorly not well. You never listen." Prickling at her criticism, I look over my shoulder and grumble "I thought you were being humble!" She
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Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 086: The Wanderer
[Primus]Her face haunts me in my dreams. My beautiful wife. I can't stop thinking of our last evening together when we finally reconnected and pledged to do whatever we must do to stay together.But she isn't here with me and I can't find her. The way to Elfholm is a mystery as no traveler who has encountered the elves remembers where. The illusions are so thick that they often lose themselves. It seems that the harder I search for her, the more difficult it becomes.Fate can be brutal. It doesn't matter how strong you are, how honorable or just, fate doesn't care. A king can be brought to his knees by it's whim. Carnelia is not with me but when I close my eyes, It's almost as if I can feel her in my arms again. Carnelia. My sweet and wonderful mate. It has been two weeks since I last held her. Two weeks since I heard I saw her through a film of darkness.She was so brave. So strong. But I can feel her pain. She needs me more than ever. Whoever has her, they are treating her cruelly.
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 085: Love and War
[Kora]I tried to call the Celestial Kingdom using the shared communications devices between our two countries. I wanted to update them on Orion's situation, to ask for aid and counsel. Elfholm has stopped sending messages demanding my presence at their Moon Council. I have tried sending my messages only to find my signals blocked.The False Queen demands my presence at Skyfall. With each refusal, she sends me a new piece of my love. At first, it was just a bit of hair, an article of clothing to remind me of his fragile situation.But it has been weeks.So now it has become talons and horns, fangs and scales.How long do I have before it is fingers and toes? His arm? His manhood?I am tired of being stuck here. I am tired of waiting.My father kept many labs. He was an anxious sort, very suspicious, and tended to over-plan. I can appreciate this about him as these are traits the two of us share. The colossus at my castle was not the only one, and while I am tempted to take this other
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 084: Shards
[Ona]She didn't warn us. She hardly even said goodbye. She looked at us with such sad eyes as she swept her hand upwards and we became encased within a sphere of darkness."I am so sorry..." Her last words faded and distorted as my brother screamed her name, screamed for her to stop.But she couldn't hear him.I held my little brother close while the darkness swept our little family, our remaining guards and nurses, up and out of Elfholm to Luxandra above.Freedom. She sacrificed herself for freedom.When the inky darkness receded, we were only footsteps away from the Eastern Gate in the Realm of Air, close to the home duchy of Eleanora the False Queen. Carnelia used her newly developed abilities to phase our entire number across a vast amount of space.Not even the Elf King himself was able to move us all so far so quickly.What is she becoming now that she is growing up into her power?"We need to get moving," I try to urge my brother, who has fallen to his knees, his hands reaching
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 083: Moonspeaker
[Carnelia]"I refuse," I hold my head high. "Allies do not treat one another like prisoners. If you wanted my help, you should have asked rather than chain me to this realm.""We're sorry, Your Majesty, but we feel it is necessary with your history to keep you contained. It is for your safety as well as the safety of all gathered here," an elderly drake steps forward, the starflower jasmine glowing blue throughout his long tendrils of hair."It took three of us to bring you back from the shadows when you unleashed your small nightmare," he explains. "We must keep you powerless or risk your wrath. We know the pull of a mother to her children. Why did you try to flee? You are safe here?""Why would any mother feel a need to leave quickly with her children and family--fear for their safety." I glare directly at my uncle. "As you say, I am too powerful. If someone were to threaten their lives," I refuse to remove my eyes from my uncle, who matches my gaze with his steely hardness, "I might
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 082: Torn
[Carnelia]The darkness takes me again, but this time, I have learned how to navigate it. The seemingly limitless void takes on shape and form. If I can find my anchor, I can find my way.Remembering the last time the shadows tried to take me, and how I used the shadows to take me to Primus instead, I focus on his voice, his scent, and the way I feel in his arms. He will be my anchor, my mate.The darkness slowly recedes and the silence is replaced with the sounds of my children crying as Primus calls my name."Oh gods, Carnelia," he weeps along with our babies as his hands grasp mine.Looking up, I see a dark, unnatural cloud looming just above the exit to Elfholm. Thalan doesn't plan to let any of us escape after all. I thought my uncle had at least a little bit of honor, but if I think about it, I can see the advantage of keeping us here. Ona and Primus he might let go, but me, my babies--we're his blood. His brother's legacy. Had I been born powerless, he might have let me go, but
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 081: Homebound
[Carnelia] Ona and I began to make plans immediately. We would all leave under the guise of returning Ona and ensuring her safety. Because our children are so very young, we would be taking them with us as well. Once returned, we'd close the gates again. As far as we understand, the Moon Dragons cannot phase into the Celestial Kingdom. The only way to get to the Celestial Kingdom without the gates being opened is by using a 4th form. Yes, the Moon Dragons have a 4th form, but that doesn't mean they'd just be able to enter the Celestial Kingdom without resistance. There are other defenses in place as well. They'd have to bring an entire army of Moon Dragons. And there is no reason great enough for the Moon Council to approve such an open act of war against fellow Celestials. The plan wasn't bad for one cobbled together from excuses, driven by hunches and fear. Elfholm isn't safe for our family any more, not with the Elf King so determined to keep me here. A drake like him wouldn't
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 080: The Queen's Knight
[Athony] The universe can be cruel. Sometimes the mate she chooses for you is a dream. Sometimes she is your nightmare. Often she is both. Eleanora keeps me around because I am useful. She is very stubborn with a willpower of steel--excellent qualities in a queen, but terrible ones in a mate. But she is loyal to those she finds useful. Why else would she still keep Segundus' corpse rotting in a vat of amber fluid? We thought it had been lost to the fire, but the universe isn't just cruel but capricious. She saw fit in her infinite wisdom to hide his corpse below several layers of earth, down a long lost tunnel leading to tracks that go to the sea. We found it a moon cycle earlier, and the joy in Eleanora's eyes was only overshadowed by her smile of victory. "We must have the Technician," she insists. "When that beast is in our grasp, we will win this battle and reclaim our rightful places." "You deserve to be Queen of us all," I bowed before her. As she touched my shoulder to r
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 079: Broods and Bonds
[Carnelia] "Primus" Moving as a shadow I find myself by my mate's side. I became the shadow. My husband is curled up in the nest with our children, snuggly resting by their side, lending them his warmth and protection, but as soon as he senses me in the room, his eyes snap open, glowing green like fresh leaves. "Carnelia."He slowly untangles himself from our brood, and I want to smile at the sweetness of it all but I'm terrified. Not only by what I just heard from my uncle but by what I might become. A creature of shadow. A creature of the void. "You came back to me," he cups my face as he brings himself closer, touching me tentatively like I might turn into vapor and disappear. For all he knows I might, I hurt his heart when I walked away. "I will always come back," I wrap my arms around him, taking pleasure in his solid strength. I need him to anchor me. Without him and our children, I might float away, becoming darkness. I need this. Breathing him in deeply, his warmth comf
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 078: The Shadow Walker
[Carnelia] The shadows call me now. I'm no longer alone when I leave the light. "A consequence of spending too much time too close to the void," Thalan explains as we turn the corner. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to hear them. Had I known you were a universal dragon sooner, I'd have pulled you from the dream immediately, even at the risk of your mind." We pause by a dark window. Everyone is asleep or close to it now. I left Primus with our children. I long to return to them and to reassure my mate that I will not leave him. I don't know how we are going to make this work. My heart is torn in two. But one thing I've never been more certain of is the importance of our little family. Even if I have to burn this world and forge another from its ashes, I'll find a way for Primus and I to rule together in peace. "The void," my words echo as it bounces along the crystal-covered cavern walls. "You keep mentioning this void, but I saw only Primus' dream." "Then how did
